Joe Manchin claims he won’t “walk away” from Biden’s plan in response to Mitch McConnell’s threat to kill a bipartisan bill against China’s economic dominance.

A McConnell threat to kill a bipartisan bill to compete with China was rejected by Manchin.
Manchin declared, "If someone is going to threaten me or hold me hostage, if I can serve the country, I'm not walking away."
Democrats are seeking to reach an agreement with Manchin in the coming weeks to resurrect Biden's economic program.

Sen. Joe Manchin declared on Monday that he is unconvinced by threats from the top Senate Republican leader to block a bill boosting economic competitiveness against China.

The conservative Democrat told reporters, "I'm not walking away if anyone's going to harm me or keep me hostage, if I can serve the country. Shame on them if they wish to engage in political and party politics.

Manchin said that the bipartisan USICA legislation, which would increase federal investment in cutting-edge technologies like computer chips, was "so inappropriate" for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to make such threats. Only a few hours later, the Kentucky Republican echoed the demand in relation to recent Democratic attempts to revive their economic agenda.Party-line maneuvering will obstruct that, McConnell declared on Monday in front of the Senate. "Our side cannot agree to rush through bipartisan negotiations to meet a fabricated deadline, so that our Democratic colleagues can clear the way to force through a party-line tax increase," said the opposing party.As Democrats move closer to reaching an agreement with Manchin on a scaled-back climate and tax economic spending plan, McConnell vowed to kill the China bill. Since then, Democrats have attacked McConnell relentlessly, accusing him of supporting China.Last week, a representative for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats intended to call a secret briefing for all senators on the bipartisan legislation because it was "essential for America's long-term national security."

Republicans and Democrats spent months trying to reach an agreement on a package to support the American semiconductor industry among other industries in an effort to lessen US reliance on Chinese imports of strategically and economically significant goods.

Separately, Manchin and Schumer are still discussing a more condensed, Democratic-only funding measure that emphasizes prescription medication changes, budget reduction, and a combination of climate and energy incentives.

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