LONGWORTH: IF YOU REMEMBER MY JUST ONE NAME ON SENATOR JOE MANCHIN, YOU KNOW HE’S A CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT WHO CREATES A WHOLE LOT OF CHALLENGES FOR THE REST OF HIS PARTY IN CONGRESS.

THE LATEST INSTANCE CAME TODAY THURSDAY WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE PRESS ON CAPITOL HILL REGARDING THE DEMOCRATS SPENDING PACKAGE PROPOSAL. HE SAID HE’S WILLING TO GO WITH $1.5 TRILLION, BUT 3.5 TRILLION IS TOO MUCH. THAT’S A PROBLEM FOR THE REST OF HIS PARTY BECAUSE THEY NEED HIM TO PASS THE BILL.

JOE MANCHIN: I’VE NEVER BEEN A LIBERAL IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR THE FORM. NO ONE HAS EVER THOUGHT I WAS. I’VE BEEN GOVERNOR, I’VE BEEN SECRETARY OF STATE, I’VE BEEN IN STATE LEGISLATURE, I’VE BEEN A US SENATOR, AND I HAVE VOTED PRETTY CONSISTENTLY ALL MY WHOLE LIFE.

LONGWORTH: HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT IF HIS PARTY WANTS TO PASS MORE OF THEIR AGENDA, THEY JUST NEED TO ELECT MORE LIBERALS, NOW EARLIER THIS WEEK MENTIONED DID EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHY HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE $3.5 TRILLION PRICE TAG. IN A STATEMENT, HIS EXACT WORDS WERE, QUOTE, SPENDING TRILLIONS MORE ON NEW AND EXPANDED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, WHEN WE CAN’T EVEN PAY FOR THE ESSENTIAL SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE IS THE DEFINITION OF FISCAL INSANITY. SO WE’LL JUST HAVE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS AS CONGRESS CONTINUES TO NEGOTIATE ON THAT BILL.