One of the key holdouts in the US Senate, Democratic lawmaker Joe Manchin of West Virginia, recently came under fire from progressive Democrats in his recent call for lowering drug prices. Progressives criticized Manchin for making a push for lowering drug prices despite opposing the social infrastructure bill that would have done so.
Manchin shared a photo with the elderly residents of the state he represented, the West Virginia Democrat called for Congress to act on lowering drug prices. However, he came under fire from his progressive colleagues and others for pushing to do so now despite voting against the Build Back Better act, which would have lowered drug prices.
The legislation passed the House through party-line votes but was killed in the Senate due to Manchin’s opposition.
“By allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, capping the cost of Insulin at $35 per month, and allowing the importation of drugs from Canada, we can lower prescription drug prices in America. We must take action and keep the promises we’ve made to our seniors,” tweeted Manchin.
“You literally killed the bill to do this,” tweeted Rep. Ilhan Omar in response to Manchin’s post.
Warren Gunnels, Senator Bernie Sanders’ Majority Staff Director, also ripped into the West Virginia obstructionist. Gunnels described Manchin as a “phony” who valued the filibuster over providing the people with provisions in the bill that they needed.
“It’s been six months since we rallied for you to vote for these provisions as part of BBB,” said Social Security Works West Virginia organizer Tony Miller. “And in the meantime, people have died because they couldn’t afford meds. Bring a bill forward!”
Sanders has also criticized Manchin and Arizona Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who is another holdout in the party’s thin majority in the Senate.
Sanders ripped into Manchin and Sinema for trying to sabotage President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda.
Sanders also urged the residents of West Virginia and Arizona to put more pressure on Manchin and Sinema to vote for the bill. To note, both senators receive donations from corporations, including Big Pharma, the fossil fuel industry, and other companies that are looking to tank the Build Back Better legislation.