Rep. Jamaal Bowman warns Joe Manchin that time for $3.5 trillion spending bill is 'now or never'
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who has previously referred to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) as "the new Mitch McConnell," took aim at the West Virginia lawmaker once again Monday morning, this time for his refusal to back Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending package at its current cost.
"When we talk about a sense of urgency, people are losing their lives and their livelihoods right now because our infrastructure is 100-years-old and climate change is here to stay," said Bowman on CNN's New Day, recalling the damage Hurricane Ida wrecked on his district and constituents. "So it's important for Senator Manchin and others to understand people are dying everyday ... and we have to go big right now in this moment. It's now or never when it comes to infrastructure and climate change, and Hurricane Ida proved that to be true."
When asked what happens if Manchin holds firm on his price tag concerns, Bowman reminded host John Berman that "we still have a couple of weeks to get this worked out," adding that "it's important for the American people to know that this is the Democratic agenda in terms of Democratic leadership."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And when asked what he would say to Manchin given the opportunity, Bowman responded confidently that "I would invite him to my district" to tour the destruction caused by a hurricane that originated on the Gulf Coast.
"This $3.5 trillion is not a giveaway," Bowman explained. "It's an investment in the American people."
Watch more below:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 17, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Trump turkey, melting media, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 contentious cartoons about Matt Gaetz's AG nomination
Cartoons Artists take on ethical uncertainty, offensive justice, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Funeral in Berlin: Scholz pulls the plug on his coalition
Talking Point In the midst of Germany's economic crisis, the 'traffic-light' coalition comes to a 'ignoble end'
By The Week UK Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate GOP selects Thune, House GOP keeps Johnson
Speed Read John Thune will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader, and Mike Johnson will remain House speaker in Congress
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tests GOP loyalty with Gaetz, Gabbard picks
Speed Read He named Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Both have little experience in their proposed jurisdictions.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Pentagon Discord leaker gets 15 years in prison
Speed Read Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, leaked classified military documents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump fills key slots, tapping Congress, MAGA loyalists
Speed Read The president-elect continues to fill his administration with new foreign policy, environment and immigration roles assigned
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published