Joe Manchin proposed a $1.5 trillion spending deal to Chuck Schumer in July


Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key moderate sticking point in Democratic negotiations over the party's $3.5 trillion spending package, proposed a $1.5 trillion deal to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) this summer, according to Politico. Manchin has before hinted at $1.5 trillion as a guiding number.
Recently, the senator's been distributing the document to his colleagues on the hill in an attempt at showing he has "outlined his red lines on [President Biden's] jobs and families plan," writes Politico. The party's progressive faction has been complaining that Manchin and his moderate counterpart Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) haven't done enough to delineate their concerns over the package's topline number, which has prevented the legislation from advancing. Some of that blame seems to have begun shifting toward Sinema, however; on MSNBC, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said there is "no sense" what Sinema wants, while Manchin's negotiation efforts feel more clear.
The document, dated July 28th, is signed by both Manchin and Schumer, though the majority leader had reportedly written a note that he "will try to change Joe on some of these." Schumer's signature did not amount to agreement, and was merely an acknowledgement, said a spokesperson for the senator.
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.
Also on the document, in bold text: "Senator Manchin does not guarantee that he will vote for the final reconciliation legislation if it exceeds the conditions outlined in this agreement."
It's unlikely that Democrats will agree to what Manchin has outlined, writes Politico, but the document is evidence that Manchin "has provided Schumer with more information than most rank-and-file Democrats."
Inside, the senator proposes raising the corporate and capital gains tax rates to 25 and 28 percent, respectively; calls for means testing on new programs; and makes certain climate demands, among other things. Read more at Politico.
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.
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Schumer: Did he betray the Democrats?
Feature 'Schumer had only bad political options'
By The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk set to earn billions from Trump administration
Speed Read Musk's company SpaceX will receive billions in federal government contracts in the coming years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reports: Musk to get briefed on top secret China war plan
Speed Read In a major expansion of Elon Musk's government role, he will be briefed on military plans for potential war with China
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump signs order to end Education Department
Speed Read The move will return education 'back to the states where it belongs,' the president says
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published