White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is a “ key partner ” for the government after Vice President Harris appeared on a local West Virginia television station to discuss President Biden’s “ critical ” coronavirus plan – an act that angered the West Virginia senator.
Harris last weekend promoted Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” during a few 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, claiming that no one from the government had called him to discuss the appearance.
“We’re going to try to find a two-pronged way forward, but we have to work together,” Manchin told Huntington’s WSAZ-TV, W.Va. “That doesn’t work together.”
However, during Monday’s White House press conference, Psaki called Manchin an “important partner” and said the White House “has been in contact with him.”
“We have been in touch with Senator Manchin as we have for many weeks and we will keep moving forward,” said Psaki.
“He is not only an important partner of the President and the White House in this package, but also on his agenda,” Psaki continued. “We will keep 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 his independent streak that often put him at odds with the leaders of the national Democratic Party.
With the Senate evenly divided into 50 Republicans and 48 Democrats – plus independents Bernie Sanders from Vermont and Angus King of Maine typically sided with the Democrats – more free-thinking Democrats like Manchin and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema are keeping in the fold. seen as key for the Biden government to move its agenda forward.
Meanwhile, during Harris’s interview, she explained the “urgency” of the $ 1.9 trillion plan that would distribute an additional $ 1,400 in incentive checks to Americans, expand unemployment insurance, and increase tax credits for children.
But when asked about the plan, Manchin said he felt the incentive checks should only go to those in need, not everyone.
“We want to help anyone who needs help,” Manchin told WSAZ. “But if someone makes $ 250,000 or $ 300,000, I don’t think he needs as much as someone who makes $ 40,000 or $ 50,000. We’re going to aim for it.”
Fox News’ Brie Stimson contributed to this report.