Top progressive tells off Manchin in testy phone call

The call followed Manchin’s announcement in a Fox News interview on Sunday that months of negotiations with the White House over the terms of the massive Build Back Better budget reconciliation package had reached an impasse and he “can’t” support the landmark legislation.

“I do believe the president when he said to us, and to me personally, that he got a commitment from Senator Manchin or [Manchin] would have to go back on his word,” Jayapal told reporters on a Monday afternoon press call. “And obviously yesterday, the senator took the latter path and went back on this word. That lack of integrity is stunning in a town where people say the only thing that you have is your word.”

Jayapal went on to say that she said as much to Manchin when he called her on Monday.

“There is nothing I have said here that I didn’t say to him,” Jayapal said. “And you will remember that I have not said anything against him all these months, because I believed he was negotiating in good faith.”