MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Monongalia County Democrat Executive Committee unanimously endorsed a letter urging U.S. Senator Joe Manchin to support the Biden Build Back Better agenda and the Freedom to Vote Act during a special session Monday.
On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, committee chair Shane Assadzandi said the meeting was called after his actions over the last nine months. The local Democrat Executive Committee contends Manchin has stalled, changed his stance on important issues that has kept signature Biden agenda items from being approved and signed into law.
“It’s a letter asking Senator Manchin to support the Freedom to Vote Act which is his compromise bill that was the For the People Act, but this is different version of that,” Assadzandi said,” The John Lewis Voting Rights Bill and the Build Back Better Act.”
Manchin’s effort to add means testing to the Build Back Better Bill. Specifically, the extension Child Tax Credit that was first signed into law with the American Rescue Plan.
Assadzandi questioned Manchin’s ability to understand the day-to-day struggles of families when he and his wife earn about $1.1 million annually from a coal operation they own and have a net worth much higher than the average West Virginian.
So somebody worth $7 million is telling West Virginians that if you make $60,000-per year you’re not worthy of tax credits,” Assadzandi said,” At some point, we as a Democtratic Party have to stand up and say it’s not acceptable.”
The letter calls on Manchin to stop “obstructing” and “whittling down” the Build Back Better initiative. The letter says his lack of support for Medicare expansion, universal pre-kindergarten, paid family leave and money for climate action does not serve his constituents.
“When he sort of pretends to say that “I have to represent West Virginians nad they want me to pull back on this,” what he’s really talking about is his corporate donors, because the average West Virginian would hugely benefit from this bill.”
“I absolutely hope Senator Manchin will pay attention to his constituents because that’s why he’s elected to serve in the senate,” Assadzandi said,” That’s the number one part of your job is to listen to constituents.”
Assadzandi also noted Manchin won his 2018 campaign against Republican Patrick Morrisey by slightly more than three percentage points. Manchin’s current term is through 2024.
A link to the full letter is here.