Democrats’ Tax-Hike Plans Imperiled, With or Without Manchin

The US Senate’s arcane budget rules threaten Democrats’ plans to increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations and invest in climate programs before November’s midterm elections, even if they can win Joe Manchin’s support.

Manchin, the key holdout vote who last week scuttled talks of a revived economic agenda, said he could support a broader tax and spending bill in September, if inflation cools. But there simply may not be time then for the grueling late-night votes and other procedures required to push the legislation through.

Joe Manchin

Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg

President Joe Biden made it clear he isn’t willing to gamble on ...