Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) opposed the White House, openly calling for negotiations between Democrats and Republicans regarding the debt ceiling.
The senator appeared on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday and was asked by host Dana Bash if he thought the White House was wrong to recommend the Democrats don’t negotiate with Republicans over the debt ceiling. President Joe Biden’s administration has asked that the borrowing limit be lifted “without conditions.”
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“I think it’s a mistake because we have to negotiate. This is a democracy that we have. We have a two-party system, if you will. We should be able to talk and find out where our differences are,” Manchin responded. “Using the debt ceiling and holding it hostage hasn’t worked in the past.”
Manchin went on to suggest that the Republicans were holding the debt ceiling hostage by threatening to cut social security, which the West Virginian senator is against. Approximately 60% of retired West Virginians live on social security and Medicare, according to Manchin.
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“Basically it’s wasteful spending, everyone believes that,” Manchin went on. “My goodness, $31.4 trillion and we throw caution to the wind and to blame the Republicans, the Republicans to blame the Democrats who is at fault. Everybody’s at fault. We don’t have a process. I’ve been there 12 years. No budget.”
Manchin is up for reelection next year.
