July 25th, 2022 by WCBC Radio
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), the crucial 50th vote on Democratic priorities in the upper chamber, won't be in the Senate this week after disclosing a positive Covid test early Monday morning. Manchin's absence may not play a huge role immediately as the chamber aims to pass a bipartisan semiconductor bill this week, as well as approve Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO. However, thornier issues like codifying same-sex marriage into federal law and a prescription drug price-centric party-line push will definitely need his vote, along with those of his other 49 Democratic caucus members.
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