Progressive Squad member Cori Bush says Manchin is racist for voting against spending bill

On Monday, Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) condemned Senator Joe Manchin for his refusal to sign off on the latest iteration of the Build Back Better agenda, saying he is racist and sexist to not vote for the massive spending measure.

"Joe Manchin does not get to dictate the future of our country," wrote Bush in a statement.

"I do not trust his assessment of what our communities need the most," she continued.

"I trust the parents in my district who can't get to their shift without childcare. I trust the scientists who have shown us what our future will look like if we fail to meaningfully address the climate crisis. I trust the patients and doctors crying out for comprehensive health coverage for every person in America."

Bush noted that when she was voted into office, she would do everything in her power "to actually deliver change that our community can feel," which includes a significant investment in children and seniors.  "We cannot spend the next year saying, 'the House did its part, and now it's the Senate's turn.' We need the Senate to actually get this done."

"Joe Manchin's opposition to the Build Back Better Act is anti-Black, anti-child, anti-woman, and anti-immigrant," said Bush.

Bush added that the Build Back Better Act would fill in gaps from the infrastructure bill that leave behind black, brown, and Indigenous communities. The infrastructure bill has passed through the House, but has yet to go through the Senate.

"Those same communities are overwhelmingly excluded from the bipartisan infrastructure bill. We cannot leave anyone behind," said Bush. "Senator Manchin must support the Build Back Better Act."

When asked by Eric Michael Garcia of the Independent to clarify her statement saying not supporting the act is anti-Black, immigrant, anti-child and anti-woman, Bush said Build Back Better "should not be a question."

"Who then are you working for? Who are you working for if the one that's going to give the most resources to those that have been the most pushed aside and the most marginalized and the ones we get to say are heroes of the last two years."If we don't do the work first for them, they are you the Senator for?" Bush said.  

"We have been having very close conversations with the White House... We're still in talks with the White House. The president said he's going to get this done? We need it done."

Bush's comments came mere hours after Manchin harshly condemned the Act on Monday. Manchin's refusal to support the Act throws a wrench in the timeline Democrats had planned out in which they would vote on the package this week, according to The Hill.

Manchin accused the Democrats of "shell games and budget gimmicks" to cover "the real cost" of the package, which he claims could be "twice as high" as expected if the proposed programs included in the package get extended. The package now costs a fraction of the original $3.5 trillion, at $1.75 trillion.

"Simply put, I will not support a bill that is this consequential without thoroughly understanding the impact that it will have on our national debt, our economy, and most importantly, all of our American people."