Senate Democrats grow less confident in Manchin | TheHill

Senate Democrats are growing less and less confident about whether Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinSALT change on ice in the Senate Clyburn knocks Manchin for arguing voting rights vote must be bipartisan Lawmakers take stock of election laws in wake of Jan. 6 anniversary MORE (D-W.Va.) wants to strike a legislative deal with President BidenJoe BidenAustralia agrees to .5 billion tank deal with US: report Jim Jordan rejects Jan. 6 panel's request to cooperate in investigation SALT change on ice in the Senate MORE.The lack of negotiations with Manchin since Congress returned from the Christmas recess and Manchin’s definitive statements of opposition are raising serious doubts about whether he would be willing to support any version of the Build Back Better Act, which would provide new funding for healthcare, child care and host of other initiatives.Manchin says he has tried to be as clear as possible about where he is, but fellow Senate Democratic colleagues feel confused about whether the West Virginia senator can be counted on to support some version of Biden’s sweeping agenda. “I have no reason to think that he does, literally no reason to think that he does,” said a second Democratic senator, who also pointed out that Manchin hasn’t showed any serious intention to pass Build Back Better or change the Senate rules to overcome a GOP filibuster against voting rights legislation. “I think he is sincere in trying to work things out,” he said But Democrats who are optimistic about Manchin getting to “yes” on something predict the eventual deal will wind up looking much different from the $2 trillion version of the Build Back Better Act passed in November or the $1.75 trillion framework unveiled by the White House in late October.