They say the media have failed to report the negative effect the bill would have on the state
West Virginian business owners and stakeholders are speaking out in support of Sen. Joe Manchin’s opposition to Build Back Better and voicing their frustration over what they see as the media’s misrepresentation of their state’s best interests.
Media outlets all over the country have published articles and op-eds blasting Sen. Manchin’s decision to split from his party and vote “no” on President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda and rejecting his claim that his decision was informed by what’s best for the people he represents in West Virginia.
An article in the New Yorker quoting a West Virginia Democratic operative positioned the legislator as a member of the “political class” out of touch with the identity of his constituents. The author wrote “The senator’s blockade against programs that have helped his constituents escape poverty makes some question ‘who matters to Joe.’” The writer went on to accuse Manchin of “losing the credibility of his connection to the very place at the heart of his identity.”
Others in the community beg to differ and see Manchin’s opposition to the legislation as evidence he’s listening to them over his party leaders.
Steve Roberts, President of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, told Fox News Digital he “fully supports” Sen. Manchin’s position based on the economic impact it will have on local businesses and says the idea broached in the media that the senator’s position is a “betrayal” of his constituents is “ludicrous.”
Roberts, whose nonpartisan organization encompasses local chapters from over 50 counties, says the majority of West Virginians side with him on the issue. Following Manchin’s announcement of his opposition to Build Back Better, Roberts received dozens of emails and phone calls from local business owners supporting the Democrat’s move – some even going so far as to say the senator “should run for president,” he said amusingly.
Not all the feedback was positive, though, Roberts recalled soberly. His office received a handful of angry emails from individuals, none of whom actually lived in West Virginia, but all of whom were outraged at Manchin’s declaration and ready to take it out on the entire state.
“One guy called us all ‘knuckle-dragging hillbillies’ and said he’d never drive through our state again,” Roberts said. Many of the vitriolic attacks against West Virginians went even further.
Roberts, who has held his position at the Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years, was clearly disturbed by the hate mail. He seemed less affected by the fact that some would disagree with his opinion on Build Back Better, a bill he admits has “some things in it that we can all agree on,” and more distressed by the disparagement of his beloved state.
“My point of view is, do you name-call and belittle when you have facts on your side?” Roberts said.
“We have facts on our side and the facts are that Build Back Better would tax our West Virginia energy industry. It would be inflationary.”
CNBC painted a grim picture for West Virginia parents following the senator’s announcement, quoting an activist who was “upset” that her hopes for paid family leave – a benefit that Manchin actually does support outside the many layers of Build Back Better’s spending – had been dashed.
Roberts thinks killing the bill is good news for parents. Build Back Better “would impede our ability to provide child care because it impedes the ability of churches to provide child care. And in West Virginia, there are churches on almost every corner.”
Life-long Mountain State resident Rebecca McPhail, who works with dozens of local businesses daily as President of the West Virginia Manufacturer’s Association, told Fox News Digital “Senator Manchin is doing the right thing for West Virginia and the United States.”
Like Roberts, McPhail felt that the few nuggets woven into Build Back Better were not enough to make up for the fact that ultimately “the cost is too great” and would exacerbate some of the dire problems plaguing West Virginia’s economy today.
“From supply chain and workforce shortages, to the rising cost of goods and services, West Virginia businesses are struggling. These are the very businesses that rushed to action in response to COVID. Adding on additional taxes to small business to pay for the myriad of programs in the plan would crush their ability to recover and compete in a global economy.”
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