White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is a “key partner” in the government after Vice President Harris appeared on a local West Virginia television station to discuss President Biden’s “critical” coronavirus relief plan – an appearance that angered the West Virginia senator.
Harris promoted Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” over the weekend during two interviews with local TV stations in West Virginia and Arizona.
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But Manchin, DW.Va., said he was surprised by Harris’ interview in his state, claiming that no government officials had called him to discuss his appearance.
“We will try to find a bipartisan way forward, but we need to work together,” said Manchin to Huntington WSAZ-TV, W.Va. “It doesn’t work together.”
During a press conference at the White House on Monday, however, Psaki called Manchin a “key partner” and said the White House “contacted him”.
“We have been in contact with Senator Manchin for several weeks and will continue to move forward,” said Psaki.
“He is not only a key partner of the president and the White House in this package, but also on his agenda,” continued Psaki. “We will maintain close contact with him.
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Manchin, 73, who has represented West Virginia in the Senate since 2010 and previously served as its governor, is known for an independent trend that has often put him in conflict with national Democratic leaders.
With the Senate equally divided into 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats – in addition to independent Bernie Sanders from Vermont and Angus King of Maine, who tend to side with Democrats – keep more free-thinking Democrats like Manchin and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema in the fold. is seen as a key for the Biden government to advance its agenda.
Meanwhile, during Harris’ interview, she explained the “urgency” of the $ 1.9 trillion plan that would provide an additional $ 1,400 in stimulus checks to Americans, expand unemployment insurance and increase the child tax credit.
But when asked about the plan, Manchin said he believed that stimulus checks should go only to those in need, not to everyone.
“We want to help everyone who needs help,” said Manchin to WSAZ. “But if a person is earning $ 250,000 or $ 300,000, I don’t think he has as much need as a person who earns $ 40,000 or $ 50,000. We will achieve that.”
Brie Stimson of Fox News contributed to this report.