John,

Joe Manchin isn’t being straight with the American people.

When he ran to FOX News yesterday to announce his opposition to the Build Back Better Act, Manchin cited concerns that the legislation would not address inflation and that the long-term costs of programs contained in the bill, such as the expanded Child Tax Credit and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, would not be paid for.

The reality is that this investment legislation will “ease longer-term inflationary pressures,” according to 17 Nobel Prize economists.[1] And, even if all of the programs included in the Build Back Better Act are “permanently” extended for 10 years, they can still be fully paid for, largely with fairer taxes on the rich and corporations, according to a new Americans for Tax Fairness analysis that we rushed out to the media and Congress earlier today.[2]

We can’t give up on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to unrig our tax system and invest in working families.

Help keep the pressure on Joe Manchin and hold him accountable to West Virginians and the American people. Donate today to bring our infographic below to millions of people and demand Manchin stop obstructing President Biden’s investment agenda.

An independent review of just four programs included in the Build Back Better Act described below shows that the bill would save an average family of four $7,400 in taxes and lower costs each year, and would save $15,000 for the average single mother with two kids.[2]

Here’s a look at some of what’s included in the Build Back Better Act, which would substantially lower costs for working families, and which Joe Manchin is obstructing with his threat of a NO vote:

• Capping Medicare prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year and expanding Medicare to cover hearing benefits

• Lowering healthcare premiums an average of $600 per year for 9 million people

• Extending free healthcare coverage through Medicaid to 4 million more

• Cutting the cost and improving the quality of home care for seniors and people with disabilities

• Providing free preschool to every 3- and 4-year-old

• Cutting childcare costs in half for most families by capping them at 7% of income

• Holding down rents and mortgages by adding over 1 million homes to the housing supply

• Making college more affordable by increasing federal tuition grants

• Offering free meals to millions of students during the school year and summer

If Joe Manchin is serious about addressing the rising out-of-pocket costs of working families and the elderly, he should be for, not against, the Build Back Better Act.

Congress can unrig our tax system and raise well over $3 trillion (on top of the $1.5 trillion raised under the House-passed Build Back Better Act) just by making the rich and corporations pay a fairer share, according to the ATF analysis. Three trillion dollars is the amount the Congressional Budget Office says is needed to fully fund all of the BBBA’s investments over the next 10 years, which is what Sen. Manchin is so concerned about.[4]

Keep fighting! Donate today to hold Joe Manchin accountable by bringing our latest infographic to millions of people across the country.

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Together, we won’t quit until we’ve passed our agenda for working families―paid for by making the rich and corporations pay their fair share.

Frank Clemente
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness

[1] “Open letter from Nobel Laureates in support of economic recovery agenda,” Economic Policy Institute

[2] “Sen. Manchin’s Opposition To Build Back Better Act Is Not Based On The Facts,” Americans for Tax Fairness, Dec. 20, 2021

[3] “What Build Back Better Means for Families in Every State,” Third Way, Dec. 1, 2021

[4] “Re: Budgetary Effects of Making Specified Policies in the Build Back Better Act Permanent,” Congressional Budget Office, Dec. 10, 2021