Sen. Joe Manchin III came out swinging against GOP critics Thursday who accused him of going back on his word by agreeing to tax increases and spending on climate and health care, despite recession and inflation fears.
The centrist Democrat from West Virginia opposed similar proposals just a few weeks ago.
Mr. Manchin rejected the criticism that it was a “job-killing” tax-and-spend spree, as conservatives describe it.
“This is not a Democrat bill. It’s not a Republican bill. This is an American bill,” he said. “I didn’t do it to help the Democratic Party. I didn’t do it to hurt the Republican Party.