Manchin (D-W.Va.) has long resisted Democrats' signature bill, which would reform campaign finance laws, standardize federal elections and also make major changes to government ethics policies. But he steadfastly devoted to opposing the bill on Sunday, all but ensuring it's bipartisan opposition.
Manchin prefers a bill strictly focused on voting rights, named after the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said that bill won't be read until the fall, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the same he opposed that legislation as well.
With Schumer devoted to a "big and bold" agenda, that means the Senate will instead vote in a couple weeks on the "For the People Act," even if it's doomed to failure.
“Speaker Pelosi put out a letter to her colleagues just a couple hours ago that said S. 4, because of its constitutional difficulties and upcoming court cases will not even be ready," Schumer said, referring to the narrower bill. "So we’re going to put S. 1 on the floor. As I said, we’re open to changes and modifications as long as it does the job."