Mad at Manchin? Kansas’ and Missouri’s senators vote against the people all the time
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is catching all the heat for refusing to support the Biden administration’s signature policy legislation, the Build Back Better plan. But let’s not give him all the blame for trampling on an agenda that would benefit women and children, families, poor people and this suffering planet. After all, Republicans here in Missouri and Kansas also have failed to stand up for what would help most of us.
Sure, we never expected Republicans like Missouri’s fist-pumping Sens. Josh Hawley, Roy Blunt, or Kansas’ Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall to vote other than the GOP party line — no to everything Biden. But their lack of interest in any attempt to even out the economic and health care inequities among Americans is no less foul.
Unlike Manchin, who at one point appeared to be coming around to side with Biden on BBB and then flipped, Republicans have never shown any support for the plan’s provisions.
The Republicans’ lie that Biden’s $1.75 trillion federal investment, which was slimmed down from $3.5 trillion, is too expensive, “unreasonable” and “reckless” was always more about denying the president a major policy victory. But their contempt comes at the expense of education for young children. Or to make it easier for the ordinary American to afford health care and housing. Or to adopt clean power for homes and cars.
They don’t care. The Biden administration has said Build Back Better would add little to the national debt. Besides, Republicans had no trouble supporting spending under President Donald Trump. During his time in office, the national debt rose $7.8 trillion.
Their actions are reminiscent of the all-out war Republicans waged against the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act, which ultimately prevailed. Then as now, their answer was to just say no.
Manchin, whose net worth soars over $5 million, lives on a $250,000 yacht — a lofty lifestyle in sharp contrast to the vast majority of his constituents. West Virginia is among the poorest states in the U.S. and has the highest rate of hunger.
During negotiations with Manchin and others, Democrats agreed to cut nearly $2 trillion from the 10-year plan, including key priorities for Medicare expansion of dental and vision coverage. So, Mr. Manchin, how can you go home to your people in West Virginia and explain that? Will you?
Kansas and Missouri Republicans have long shown us who they are with votes against a bill to halt wage discrimination on the basis of sex, against legislation that invests in the nation’s infrastructure and against laws to ensure voter access and integrity.
These are clearly votes cast with a cynical eye to the next political campaign — and not the people. After all, polls show that most Americans want fair wages, safe homes and access to a secure ballot box.
So, yes, Manchin is an easy scapegoat now, but let’s not forget to also call out our own self-supporting law makers. Sen. Blunt, Hawley, Moran and Rogers have done no less than Manchin to say they are never going to care about helping average citizens unless it also helps them.
This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 4:42 PM.