Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is continuing to derail much of President Biden’s legislative agenda, with outrage growing over his demand for income limits and work requirements on families receiving a child tax credit. Manchin said Sunday he wants to offer the $300-a-month child tax credit only to families with incomes under $60,000, with children’s parents or guardians required to hold a job. An expanded child tax credit favored by nearly all other Democrats would lift an estimated 4.3 million U.S. children out of poverty.
Senator Manchin is also refusing to support President Biden’s climate change legislation, putting Democrats’ infrastructure bill and social spending package at risk. Manchin met separately Monday with two progressive leaders on Capitol Hill: Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.