Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said they were relieved by President Biden's statement on Saturday, walking back his implied veto threat of the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
Why it matters: The passage of the $1.2 trillion agreement seemed to be in jeopardy after Biden made several remarks on Thursday suggesting an ultimatum.
- In a lengthy statement on Saturday afternoon, Biden clarified: "My comments also created the impression that I was issuing a veto threat on the very plan I had just agreed to, which was certainly not my intent."
- Portman said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that he and other senators were "blindsided" by Biden's earlier remarks.
What they're saying: "This is the largest infrastructure package in the history of the United States of America," Manchin said on "This Week."
- "There has been a doubt in my mind that [Biden] is anxious for this bill to pass and for him to sign it, and I look forward to being there when he does," he continued.
- "I sure hope [Biden's statements] were enough, it's a great deal," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in a separate interview with NBC's "Meet the Press."
- "We were assured the two would not be linked. There is bipartisan opposition to the non-hard infrastructure portion of the bill," Cassidy added, referring to a separate measure that included additional domestic priorities.
Go deeper: Biden walks back implied veto threat on infrastructure deal
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