The deal would require the support of all 50 Senate Democrats, putting Sinema, which was not involved in the behind-the-scenes negotiations, under close scrutiny until it announces a position. “The reason people didn’t turn to it, I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Manchin told CNN’s “State of the Union” co-host Jake Tapper. “I didn’t want to let people down.” The bill is a stripped-down package from the roughly $3 trillion Build Back Better deal that Democrats had hoped to pass before Manchin announced he could not support the bill late last year after months of wrangling over a potential deal. Manchin and Schumer had been negotiating for months over a smaller package. Their talks broke down on July 14, but the two Democrats surprised many in Washington when they announced a deal last week. The package would invest $369 billion in energy-focused climate programs over the next 10 years and $300 billion in deficit reduction, in addition to provisions to expand health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. When asked by Tapper if Sinema would support the bill, Manchin emphasized her input on the potential text. He said Sinema was “very instrumental” in allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and the two moderate senators agreed not to raise taxes on Americans. Why Democrats are excited for Biden after a big week Why Texas Democrats are feeling a sense of déjà vu “There’s so much in this bill,” Manchin said. “He’s built quite a bit and worked really hard on it.” Manchin added that he and Sinema “talk a lot,” but declined to say when they last met. “Hopefully she’ll be positive about it,” he said. “But she will make her decision. I respect that.” Manchin said he hopes the Senate will pass the bill this week before they leave for the upcoming August recess.
