Schumer vows vote on Build Back Better despite ?no? from Manchin

Democrats will keep working on Joe Biden's Build Back Better spending plan "until we get something done", Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer told colleagues on Monday - a day after a stunning move by Joe Manchin of West Virginia drew accusations of betrayal from the White House and seemed to leave the president's agenda dead in the water.

In a letter to colleagues, Schumer wrote: "We are going to vote on a revised version of the House-passed Build Back Better Act - and we will keep voting on it until we get something done."

He also put senators on notice that they will "consider voting rights legislation as early as the first week back" next month, a timeline for another part of Biden's agenda and an olive branch to disillusioned progressives.

Build Back Better had been delayed as the White House and Democrats in Congress sought accommodation with Manchin and fellow centrist Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, key votes in a Senate split 50-50 and controlled by Vice-President Kamala Harris.

In his letter, Schumer spoke of "moments of deep discontent and frustration" before Manchin's decision to use Fox News Sunday to say he was a "no" on the spending plan, which is valued at about $1.75tn and would expand health and social care and seek to combat the climate crisis, among other priorities.

Manchin cited the cost of the plan and worries including inflation, the debt and the Omicron coronavirus variant, and said: "I've always said this ... if I can't go home and explain it to the people of West Virginia, I can't vote for it.

Manchin also put out a statement. The White House responded with a fierce rebuke, accusing the senator of going back on his word - an accusation reportedly included at Biden's insistence.