Joe Manchin Promised West Virginians He Would Not Raise Taxes in a Recession — But Now He is Breaking His Word
When Joe Manchin asked the voters of West Virginia to send him to Washington, he made two tax promises to the voters:
1. No tax hikes in a recession.
In October 2010, in a nationally televised debate, Manchin said: “I don’t think during a time of recession you mess with any of the taxes, or increase any taxes.”
81% of U.S. adults believe a recession will hit in 2022, according to a recent CNBC survey. Manchin and Biden have both expressed concern about a recession and the U.S. already has one quarter of negative economic growth.
2. No tax hikes at all until the government is running “efficiently.”
In the same October 2010 debate, Manchin said: “I can’t look the people in West Virginia in the eye and ask them to pay a penny more until I know we’re running this government efficient.”
Now he’s threatening to impose a tax hikes on West Virginia households and businesses as part of his “son of BBB” talks with progressives like Chuck Schumer. So what happened, Joe?