Sen. Bernie Sanders is convinced Sen. Joe Manchin "doesn't have the guts" to vote for the Build Back Better Act.

The independent senator from Vermont also said that Manchin has "a lot of explaining to do" after the West Virginia Democrat announced on Sunday that he would vote "no" on President Joe Biden's Build Back Better plan.


"If he doesn't have the courage to do the right thing for the working families of West Virginia and America, let him vote 'no' in front of the whole world," Sanders told Jake Tapper on Sunday during CNN's State of the Union.

MANCHIN ANNOUNCES HE WILLL NOT VOTE FOR BBB: 'THIS IS A NO'

Sanders's comments occurred moments after Manchin announced on Fox News that he would vote "no" on the Build Back Better plan.

Sanders, a socialist, expressed his disappointment with Manchin's decision, claiming that the West Virginia senator "doesn't have the guts" to expand home healthcare, challenge the drug companies, or change the energy system to better combat climate change.

Sanders had hoped that he could have "at least" 50 Democrats on board for the legislation, as no Republicans in the Senate or House have expressed support for the bill.

Manchin told Fox that the measure, priced at $1.75 trillion, costs too much and is far above the upper limit he had set months ago. Manchin also gestured at skyrocketing inflation, measured at 6.8% in November, and the United States's $27 trillion debt as concerns for why he hesitates to support the bill.

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Manchin also argued that Democrats were using budgeting gimmicks to make the bill seem less expensive, such as shortening the time frame of programs that are likely to last much longer.

Democrats currently hold 50 seats in the Senate and will need 50 votes to approve the bill with a tiebreaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris.