Irish Examiner view: Welcome volte face by Joe Manchin

The US senator will support measures to pay down the national debt, lower healthcare costs, and address the climate crisis

A surprise announcement on Wednesday signalled that Senator Joe Manchin had reached agreement with Democrat leaders to the domestic policy bill. Picture: Andrew Harnik/AP

US president Joe Biden’s long-stalled economic and climate agenda has got an unexpected boost from an unforeseen quarter.

The recalcitrant Democrat senator for West Virginia, Joe Manchin, appeared to have stalled Biden’s ambitious plans to the point they seemed dead in the water.