
Manchin says he's 'not a roadblock' for Biden's priorities as he pushes for slimmed-down infrastructure bill
CNN
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said Sunday that he's not a "roadblock" for President Joe Biden's legislative agenda, even as he uses his key position in the Senate to push against some aspects of Biden's massive infrastructure proposal.
"I'm not a roadblock at all," Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia, told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" when asked about those in his party who view him as a challenge to accomplishing some of the President's agenda. Manchin wields significant influence in the Senate as a result of his party's slim majority. But as he sought to dismiss criticism from members of his party, Manchin told Bash that he supports a "more targeted" version of Biden's roughly $2 trillion infrastructure plan, flexing his potential veto power in the negotiations over the package. Biden's proposal includes less traditional infrastructure items, like $400 billion to bolster caregiving for aging Americans and those with disabilities.
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