President Joe Biden spoke with Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin about his Build Back Better agenda on Monday afternoon as the deadline to pass \u2026<\/b>
\nPresident Joe Biden spoke with Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin about his Build Back Better agenda on Monday afternoon as the deadline to pass the legislation before year\u2019s end creeps closer. White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates offered a bare readout of the phone call between Biden and Manchin, saying that it was \u201cgood\u201d and \u201cconstructive\u201d and noting that the two \u201cagreed to follow up with one another in the coming days.\u201d A statement from Manchin\u2019s team read almost verbatim to that of the White House. Manchin himself offered little in way of details as well, telling reporters afterwards that the conversation was \u201cnice\u201d and that he\u2019s \u201cengaged\u201d with Biden, according to The Hill. Manchin has consistently been on the fence about passing Biden\u2019s $2 trillion spending package, repeatedly citing concerns about the bill\u2019s price tag. This uncertainty coincides with both a rise in inflation and a new, revised score released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO score came at the request of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Missouri Rep. Jason Smith and speculates on the cost of Biden\u2019s bill if various provisions, like the child tax credit expansion, became permanent. Under this parameter, Biden\u2019s Build Back Better agenda would \u201cincrease the deficit by $3 trillion over 2022 to 2031,\u201d the CBO score found. \u201cI talked to him this morning and he was stunned,\u201d Graham said on Friday regarding Manchin and the new CBO score, according to CNN. \u201cI think he felt vindicated in that his concerns were legitimate.\u201d Manchin appears particularly worried about inflation, which recently reached its highest level in 39 years. He told reporters earlier Monday that these numbers are \u201calarming\u201d and \u201cnot transitory,\u201d according to The Hill. \u201cIt\u2019s going up, not down, and I think that should be something we\u2019re concerned about,\u201d Manchin said. In light of the inflation news, Biden admitted he\u2019s unsure whether he\u2019ll be able to get Manchin on board to pass the bill. The West Virginia senator\u2019s vote is viewed as vital to Biden\u2019s agenda passing. (RELATED: Over 60% Of Americans Say Biden\u2019s Policies Are To Blame For Accelerating Inflation) \u201cI don\u2019t know the answer to that,\u201d Biden said Friday when asked whether he can get Manchin on board given the circumstances. \u201cI\u2019m going to be talking to him at the beginning of the week.\u201d While it\u2019s unclear when the two plan to speak again, Manchin offered a glimmer of hope for those wanting the social spending package to pass by Christmas, telling reporters that \u201canything is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n