We learn in high school civics class that the job of an elected official is to represent their constituents in any office they hold. I realize that Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-7th Congressional District, represents a very liberal district and that most of her comments regarding Build Back Better are overwhelmingly supported by her constituents.
I can remember back in the day when Chuck Moon represented the 39th Legislative District. Rep. Moon on more than one occasion told me that he had a “liberal” philosophy and that if his constituents didn’t like the issues he supported they could vote him out of office. He served many years in the Legislature.
However, Rep. Jayapal doesn’t seem to think that Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., should support his constituents on this legislation. She claims he told President Biden he would support the bill. I have heard Sen. Manchin on several talk shows going back several months. He has been consistent that he could support a $1.75 trillion bill. But he also said many times that several of the proposals in the legislation should be “means tested.” He commented that people making $200,000 should not need day and child care tax credits.
So the legislation was re-drafted. All the social programs were included, but items like the day and child care programs were cut to 1 to 2 years; with the taxes being collected for 10 years. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office put out a report that if all the programs were funded for 10 years the cost would be over $4 trillion. This does not appear to be what Sen. Manchin told the president he could support.
I have seen several polls that indicated Manchin’s constituents in West Virginia support his position by 70 percent to 75 percent. So he is adequately representing his constituents just a Rep. Jayapal is representing hers.
Don Wlazlak
Marysville
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
