‘Not Going To Happen’: Jayapal Shoots Down Manchin’s Topline Counteroffer

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks to members of the press outside a House Democratic caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on October 1, 2021 in Washington, DC. The House is expected t... WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks to members of the press outside a House Democratic caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on October 1, 2021 in Washington, DC. The House is expected to try again today to vote on a $1 trillion infrastructure package as moderate and liberal wings of the Democratic party continue to wrestle with the combined infrastructure package and the $3.5 trillion social spending plan proposed by the Biden administration. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, on Sunday rejected Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) counteroffer of a $1.5 trillion top line for the reconciliation package after progressives spurred the delay of the House vote on the bipartisan infrastructure, which buys Democrats more time to reach a deal on reconciliation amid moderates putting up a fight over its price tag.

Pressed during an appearance on CNN about whether House progressives could back Manchin’s $1.5 trillion proposal — a counterproposal he made after his repeated refusal to name a topline number amid his complaints over the reconciliation bill’s $3.5 trillion price tag. Jayapal replied, “That’s not going to happen.”

“That’s too small to get our priorities in. So, it’s going to be somewhere between 1.5 and 3.5,” Jayapal said. “And I think the White House is working on that right now, because, remember, what we want to deliver is child care, paid leave, climate change, housing.”

Jayapal added that she does not have a counteroffer for the reconciliation bill’s price tag.

“We’re not thinking about the number. And the President said this to us too. He said, don’t start with the number. Start with what you’re for,” Jayapal said. “And that’s what he’s asked them for. And then let’s come to the number from there. So, that’s how we’re thinking about it.”

“I don’t feel the need to give a number, because I gave my number. It was 3.5. So, if you’re in a negotiation, you need to have a counteroffer before you bid against yourself,” Jayapal continued.

Jayapal’s latest comments come on the heels of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urging passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill by Oct. 31 while making clear the need for both infrastructure bills to pass.

“Out of respect for our colleagues who support the bills and out of recognition for the need for both, I would not bring BIF to the Floor to fail,” Pelosi said. “Again, we will and must pass both bills soon. We have the responsibility and the opportunity to do so. People are waiting and want Results.”

The delay of the vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill occurred as a result of progressives refusing to back down on their threat to sink the legislation if it’s put to a vote before Democrats’ sweeping reconciliation package.

On Friday, President Biden reiterated his commitment to passing both infrastructure bills in tandem during a meeting with House Democrats. Jayapal told reporters on Friday afternoon that the President backed coupling the bipartisan infrastructure plan and reconciliation package.

The President, however, reportedly warned House Democrats that they’d have to come down from $3.5 trillion, throwing out $2.2 trillion as a possible alternative.

“I wrote the damn bill. … Even a smaller bill can make historic investments — historic investments in child care, day care, clean energy. You get a whole hell of a lot of things done,” Biden told told House Democrats, according to Politico.

Watch Jayapal’s remarks below:

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. This is worse than reading about the Goober’s daily parade of bullshit.

  2. Jayapal quoting Biden

    “Don’t start with the number. Start with what you are for”

    This is what “good messaging” looks like.

  3. I am less concerned about the hardworking people crafting this legislation than unscrupulous people using these processes for drama, falsehoods and “enemy” creation.

    People working to craft this legislation are somehow made “equivalent” (BothSides) to GOP adolescents in business suits craving to wreck it all–and thus forestall needed policies–for party advantage.

  4. For you, maybe.

    Meanwhile, all of those people you think are Democrats have now made the philosophical shift to Progressive. Because, absent the trappings of Clinton-era liberalism, Democrats and Progressives are the same people.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

235 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for eggrollian Avatar for becca656 Avatar for irasdad Avatar for inversion Avatar for tacoma Avatar for bonvivant Avatar for lastroth Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for jhand Avatar for sabbadoo32 Avatar for darrtown Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for 21zna9 Avatar for brian512 Avatar for kelaine Avatar for txlawyer Avatar for trustywoods Avatar for n_b Avatar for emiliano4 Avatar for LeeHarveyGriswold Avatar for geographyjones

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: