I’ve said before, I don’t know Manchin, but immediately after election, he started hinting “well, I might not support this or that….”
It was a very smart political ploy to put Pelosi and Schumer on notice - remember, if you want something, I am your swing vote. Prepare to PAY ME.
The trouble with being the ‘swing vote’ ...
... once the bribes start, they are all ‘the swing vote’