Manchin: DC Cannot 'Ignore Economic Pain Of Inflation', Bodes Ill For BBB

US Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) tweets: "By all accounts, the threat posed by record inflation to the American people is not "transitory" and is instead getting worse. From the grocery store to the gas pump, Americans know the inflation tax is real and DC can no longer ignore the economic pain Americans feel every day."

• Senator Manchin's views on the US economy are likely to prove crucial over the coming weeks and months. This is because of his position as one of two key swing senators on the White House's multi-trillion dollar 'Build Back Better' social spending package.
• Should Manchin indicate that he believes a major infrastructure and social spending package would ramp up inflation further beyond today's high print it could spell trouble for the White House. The administration needs every single Democratic senator to vote in favour of BBB in order to pass via reconciliation.
• Likely to set up another Mexican standoff between moderate Dem sens Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and progressive members of Congress such as Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).