Manchin, hours before, reiterates 'There is no Build Back Better,' wants Biden to address inflation
In advance of tonight's speech, Sen. Joe Manchin reiterated his long-held view that has blocked Biden's domestic agenda, saying, "There is no Build Back Better."
"What we should be looking at is what we can do and what we have done," the West Virginia Democrat said.
![PHOTO: Sen. Joe Manchin speaks to reporters after a closed door briefing with Senators at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Feb. 03, 2022.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/the-note-joe-manchin-02-gty-llr-220206_1644180735593_hpEmbed.jpg)
He told reporters he wants Biden to talk about inflation and about energy independence instead.
"Inflation is basically destroying the country as we know it from the standpoint of making it harder on the people they were trying to help -- so we have to get energy under control," Manchin said. "And next of all, be energy independent. Putin has weaponized energy, so shouldn't we be using energy to counter what he's been doing?"
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin