Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) added his name to the list of senators agreeing with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in opposition to Lazard banker Antonio Weiss for undersecretary of the Treasury for domestic policy.
Manchin announced his opposition in a speech on Wednesday afternoon.
“I rise today to explain why I must oppose the nomination of Wall Street investment banker, Antonio Weiss, for Under Secretary for Domestic Finance at the Department of Treasury,” Manchin said. “I cannot and will not support his nomination because I do not believe he possesses the characteristics and the background we need in an Under Secretary to push for strong Wall Street oversight and to protect our small businesses and financial institutions on Main Streets across America.”
Manchin’s announcement follows Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) earlier in the day also announcing her opposition to Weiss.
Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also oppose Weiss.
Arguably, Warren has been the loudest opponent of Weiss, who was nominated by the Obama administration. Warren argues that Weiss’s background at Lazard and his involvement in the corporate tax inversion merger between Tim Horton’s and Burger King proves that he would just be the latest banker to benefit from the revolving door between Washington D.C. and Wall Street.
If Dems could make the case, they have an opportunity to pull Main St. business folks away from the Republican Party. But they can’t, because they are just as beholden to the financial industry as Reps.
Manchin’s opposition shows why it is foolish to rejoice in the defeat of Blue Dog Democrats. They usually vote for sound Democratic principles, and the party needs to expand its membership beyond just reliably blue states to be effective.
Isn’t there a possibility that he’ll switch party affiliation, or was that just another silly clickbait story?
I guess it doesn’t matter if he votes with the new majority anyway.
What kind of support does Warren need to defeat the corporatist Dems + Repubs on this one? Any chance of winning this fight?
First let see if Manchin vote with the repubs. on this $1.1 Trillion giveaway to Wall Street, Banks, & Corps.