Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia speaks to reporters outside of the U.S. Capitol on September 30, 2021.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia speaks to reporters outside of the U.S. Capitol on September 30, 2021.
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  • Manchin told reporters on Thursday that he's "never been a liberal in any way, shape or form."
  • The West Virginia senator said he would only support a reconciliation bill that's pared down to $1.5 trillion.
  • "Elect more liberals," Manchin said of his colleagues who support the current $3.5 trillion price tag.
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Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia told reporters on Thursday that he is not a liberal as he calls for the Biden administration's $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill to be pared down to $1.5 trillion.

"I've never been a liberal in any way, shape or form," Manchin told reporters outside the US Capitol. "There's no one that's ever thought I was. I've been governor, I've been secretary of state, I've been in the state legislature, I've been a US senator, and I hope voted pretty consistently all my whole life."

"I don't fault any of them who believe that they're much more progressive and much more liberal. God bless them," he said. "And all they need to do, we have to elect more, I guess, for them to get theirs – elect more liberals."

On Thursday, Politico first published a document – confirmed to Insider by a Senate Democratic aide – that revealed Manchin had outlined his proposals for what Democrats' reconciliation bill should look like and shared it with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in July.

In the document, Manchin proposed $1.5 trillion in spending as a topline for the bill, and suggested raising the corporate tax rate to 25% and the capital gains tax rate to 28%. He also wanted means testing – or threshold formulas – for any new spending.

"I believe in my heart" that $1.5 trillion is the most US can afford to spend right now and that it shouldn't change into "an entitlement-based society," Manchin told reporters on Thursday.

All eyes are on Manchin and Arizona Sen. Krysten Sinema as a key portion of President Joe Biden's domestic agenda hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, protestors affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America and Code Pink protested several yards away, calling Manchin a "traitor" while yelling "no reconciliation, no deal!"

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