Opinion

Sen. Joe Manchin’s position on Build Back Better reflects the reality of West Virginia politics

“I’ve always said, ‘If I can’t go back home and explain it, I can’t vote for it.’”

That is how Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) explained his announcement Sunday that he “cannot vote” for the hallmark of his party’s agenda, a transformational $2 trillion measure that would overhaul health care, education, climate initiatives, immigration and the tax code.