Vice President Mike Pence is seeking revenge against Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) for reneging against the deal he thought they'd reached on tax reform -- but the West Virginia Democrat thinks it's all for show.
The vice president campaigned against Manchin last week in Trump-backing West Virginia, where he attacked Manchin for voting against the Republican tax bill, reported Politico.
Manchin told Pence in August that he could not vote for a GOP plan to repeal the Affordable Act, but he assured the vice president he was committed to working on a bipartisan tax bill.
Administration officials and other Republicans briefed on the conversation say Manchin promised his support, but Manchin says that's not accurate.
“He looked me in the eye, and I looked him in the eye, and I said, ‘I want to work with you,’" Manchin told Politico. "And that’s a two-way street. That is so disingenuous from our vice president.”
“He’s not upset -- he can’t be upset,” Manchin said.
Congressional Republicans say Pence believes Manchin should face political consequences for voting against the tax plan that passed on party lines, and he'll return to West Virginia in April.
“Pence is pissed," said one Republican lawmaker. "He should be pissed."
But senators from both parties are unhappy with the apparent feud, because Pence may need Manchin's vote in the GOP's thin 51-49 majority.
“I don’t think it's wise to alienate people who are willing to work with you,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
