I Prayed have prayed
Father, we pray for Senator Manchin and that he would make wise decisions. Give him the strength to stand against evil.
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Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is the most pivotal vote in the evenly divided Senate, and his power could spark prolonged intraparty feuds among Democrats.

Concerned about simmering friction, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday strongly urged his Democratic caucus to unify around a pending $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. 

Manchin appears to have derailed President Biden’s nominee to head the White House budget office, Neera Tanden, by announcing last week that he would vote against her because of sharp criticisms she leveled on Twitter against Senate colleagues. In a 50-50 Senate, Tanden now needs the backing of at least one Republican, and perhaps more, which appears unlikely.

Manchin has jeopardized Biden’s plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by announcing this month he opposes such an increase. He suggested instead setting it at $11 an hour and indexing it to inflation. . . .

Schumer said that not every Democratic senator is going to be entirely pleased with the COVID-19 relief bill but warned the party must pass it. In all likelihood, every Democrat in the upper chamber will have to back the measure in order to get it to the president’s desk. . . .

Manchin on Monday said he would attempt to amend Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief proposal, which the House is scheduled to pass this week, to set the federal minimum wage at $11 an hour.

“Eleven dollars is the right place to be,” he said. “I’d amend it to $11.” He also added that his plan is to index the wage floor to inflation.. . . 

Passing Biden’s pending $1.9 trillion relief package, however, is only the start of the challenges facing Schumer, Manchin and the rest of the Democratic caucus.

“I talked to Harry Reid about him and he said [Manchin] was always a pain in the neck,” said Ross K. Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University who served as a fellow in the office of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

“[Manchin is] in an awkward position. He’s a Democrat from a state that backed Trump more heavily than any other state,” Baker added, noting that former President Trump carried West Virginia with 68 percent in 2016 and 69 percent in 2020. In 2020, Trump gained a larger percentage of the vote only in Wyoming — 70 percent. . . .

Manchin’s support is far from certain if Democrats try to pass Biden’s “Build Back Better” jobs and economic recovery plan.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is pushing hard for a $15 an hour wage bill, said discussions are already underway about using special budgetary rules to pass a massive economic stimulus package with a simple majority vote after the $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” becomes law.

Manchin said Tuesday that Democratic leaders should move an infrastructure and jobs bill, which may cost as much as $3 trillion, through regular order, which means working with Republicans instead of using another budget reconciliation package to bypass GOP colleagues. . . .

Manchin, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, also raised doubt this week about another one of Biden’s nominees, Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.). His spokeswoman said the senator is undecided on Haaland, who would be the first Native American to head the Interior Department or serve in the Cabinet.

That prompted a stern rebuke from liberal Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who juxtaposed Manchin’s indecision over Haaland to his support for Trump’s nomination of Jeff Sessions in 2017 to head the Department of Justice.

“Manchin voted to confirm him. Sessions then targeted immigrant children for wide-scale human rights abuses w/ family separation. Yet the 1st Native woman to be Cabinet Sec is where Manchin finds unease?” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

Manchin’s role as the 50th and toughest-to-nail-down vote in the Democratic caucus has boosted his profile. Pundits have touted him as a new Senate powerbroker and the most powerful member of the evenly divided upper chamber. . . .

Manchin kept a relatively low profile during the first few weeks of the new Senate Democratic majority, sticking with his leadership on key votes on the budget resolution, Biden’s top Cabinet picks and Trump’s second impeachment trial.

But he is beginning to assert himself more forcefully as it becomes clear that Republican support will be difficult to muster on certain issues. . . .

“No, there’s nothing about powerbroker. I denounce that completely,” he said. . . .

“I’ll tell you about power. I’ve seen people that have it, abuse it. I’ve seen people that sought it ruin themselves,” he said.

But he also said he’s “seen people that took a moment of time and tried to make a change and a difference,” adding that he hopes to be a lawmaker who works across party lines to make a difference.

Manchin joked the key facts to know about him are “I have three children and 10 grandchildren.”

Share your prayers for Manchin in the comments below!

(Excerpt from The Hill. Article by Alexander Bolton. Photo by Leigh Vogel-Pool/Getty Images)

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Diane Rall
March 2, 2021

Senator Manchin must be covered, angels. Keep him safe as he weighs carefully the choices he makes on behalf of West Virginia constituent. He is including GOD’S plan for our children

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Cole
March 2, 2021

I pray for Manchin a lot. And one of my consistent prayers is that he would up and shift party while in office. That would make a seismic difference in what could proceed forward in legislation but no matter what he does, I will continue to pray God will guide his decisions for the betterment of this nation.

Helen
March 2, 2021

Heavenly Father, Most High God, thank you for placing Senator Manchin in the Senate for times such as this. Thank You for giving him a voice of reason, for wisdom, understanding and knowledge. May he choose the fear of the Lord.and abound yet more in knowledge and in all judgment that he approve things that are excellent.

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Barbara Kuhls
March 1, 2021

Lord God, for the sake of his three kids and ten grandchildren, let Sen. Manchin think independently and vote against this astronomical spending bill that has nothing to do with covid. May he recognize the enormous burden of debt and other evil agendas this places on those 13 and just say no. No to this outrageous fraudulent bill and no the confirmations of wicked cabinet members and no to the evil “equality act” that is anything but equal. Let him not be bullied by the demonic party of political pressure advancing evil faster than a freight train going downhill towards a cliff. Keep him awake at night, unable to justify voting yes to anymore nonsense and evil. Give him courage and strength to consider the ramifications of his influence. Help him see that when he stands against the evil, he gives a few other democrats the courage to do the same.
We just need a few good men, let him be the first. We already have several Republicans that go against the grain, let a few democrats, starting with Mr. Manchin do that also. Help him to see that It’s never too late to do the next right thing.
Amen

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Shea Manley
March 1, 2021

Father God, you created life, love, and liberty. I thank you for each of those gifts. I pray now for Senator Manchin. I pray that he would be bold and follow God’s way above any temptation to reduce the pressure that he is feeling. I pray that he would do what is right according to your will. Lord, I pray that he would have a Holy Ghost experience that would shake him to his core and that he would be forever changed! That he would live for you and for the name of Jesus. I pray that his mind would be protected from the wiles of the evil one. I pray that he would have a hedge of protection around him as he moves from place to place. I pray that he would have believers all around him so that he would have Godly wisdom. I pray that he would serve as inspiration to others in doing your perfect will. I know that this isn’t easy, but I trust God that you would give him strength and resolve to do your will. I pray that you would bless him abundantly for the times that he follows you in his decisions and votes. In Jesus’s holy name, I pray! AMEN!

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Danny N.C.
March 1, 2021

Dear Heavenly Father please open the eyes of as many Democrats as possible to the intense evils their party are now sugar coating and spreading. May Manchin’s eyes be further opened and may he inspire still more to seek truth and justice. In Jesus precious name I pray O’ Lord, Amen.

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Meg
March 1, 2021

Father God, I pray for Sen. Manchin to be surrounded by Your Wisdom, enlighten his heart with Your Truth & strengthen his resolve for Righteousness. I pray God that You would protect him from false accusations to divide him from the voters who support him. I pray God that Your Angels would strengthen him just as they strengthened prophets in the Old Testament & Peter in prison in the New Testament. And I pray that Your Power would work mightily through him to speak Your Truth. I pray that his courage would embolden other Democrats who have Your Spirit living inside them to also speak up for Your Righteousness in these troubling times. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Terry
March 1, 2021

Heavenly Father, we come to you humbly, but persistently petitioning for the moving of Your great power to greatly affect the mind and heart of Joe Manchin and not only him, but all his colleagues in the legislature. Impress upon him and them truth…real truth…Your truth and the necessity and call to receive it, stand upon it and act by it. Holy Spirit move in a great tsunami-type wave over Congress and capitol hill turning hearts to the source of Truth and Light–the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. Open blinded eyes to see and recognize Him who does sit upon The Throne and whose government shall never end. Open deaf ears to hear Him calling. Make hearts receptive to who You are, Lord and what You call us to be and do. Defeat any spirits in our government, in our nation and in the church that war against the truth, against the purposes and against the plans of God. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We look to You, Lord. We seek to honor and obey You, Lord. We ask these things of You, Lord, because You are our Help, our Defender, our Provider, our Deliverer, and the Great Shepherd who holds us close to Your heart. May Your Name be praised now and forevermore!

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    Susan CC
    March 1, 2021

    “Defeat any spirits in our government, in our nation and in the church that war against the truth…and You Father God! Amen!

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Susan CC
March 1, 2021

Dear Savior, You know rebuke. I pray Senator Manchin will be saturated with Your power to stand “in this moment of time to make a change and a difference.” I pray just as You have with countless others in times past, strengthen Sen. Manchin. I pray he feels You with him in this upcoming vote and all those to come. You said, the things impossible with men are possible with God. Please Jesus, pray for us. Please Holy Spirit, fill us. Give us champions, surround us with your mighty angels, hear our prayers Father… destroy the plans of the wicked. I ask this for Your Glory and our good. Thank You Father, thank You Jesus, thank You Holy Spirit.

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