White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is an “important partner” for the government after Vice President Harris appeared on a local Virginia television station to criticize President Biden’s “criticism.” to discuss a plan for coronavirus relief – an appearance that angered the West Virginia senator.
Harris promoted Biden’s $ 1.9 billion U.S. rescue plan over the weekend during a series of interviews with local TV stations in West Virginia and Arizona.
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But Manchin, DW.Va., said he was surprised by the Harris interview in his state and claimed that no one from the government called him to discuss the appearance.
“We’re going to try to find a dual path forward, but we need to work together,” Manchin told WSAZ-TV of Huntington, W.Va. “It does not work together.”
However, during the White House press briefing, Psaki called Manchin a “key partner” and said the White House was “in touch with him”.
“We have been in contact with Sen. Manchin as we have been doing for many weeks and will continue to move forward,” Psaki said.
“Not only is he an important partner for the president and the White House on this package, but also on his agenda,” Psaki continued. “We will remain in close contact with him.
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Manchin, 73, who has represented West Virginia in the Senate since 2010 and previously served as governor, is known for an independent series that has often put him at odds with national Democratic Party leaders.
With the Senate evenly divided between 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats – plus Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, who usually stand with the Democrats – more free-thinking Democrats like Manchin and Arizona senator Kyrsten Cinema kraal. seen as the key for Biden’s government to advance its agenda.
Meanwhile, during Harris’ interview, she outlined the “urgency” of the $ 1.9 billion plan that would give an additional $ 1,400 in stimulant checks to Americans, expand unemployment insurance and increase child tax credit.
But when asked about the plan, Manchin said he believes stimulus controls should only go to the needy, not everyone.
“We want to help everyone who needs help,” Manchin told WSAZ. “But if someone earns $ 250,000 or $ 300,000, I don’t think they have as much need as someone who earns $ 40,000 or $ 50,000. We’re going to target it.”
Fox News’ Brie Stimson contributed to this report.