Sen. Joe Manchin said he may block Joe Biden's climate change and infrastructure package unless Republicans are allowed more influence during negotiations.
Mr Manchin, who describes himself as a "moderate" Democrat, carries an important vote in the near evenly-divided Senate. He wants to see Republicans have more say in the negotiations than they did in the $1.9tn coronavirus stimulus discussion.
Democrats managed to pass the coronavirus stimulus using reconciliation, which only requires a simple majority. Mr Manchin said he refused to use reconciliation to pass the climate and infrastructure package.
“I am not going to get on a bill that cuts them out completely before we start trying,” Mr Manchin told Axios.
The senator is the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, and threatened to use his position to hold up the legislation if Mr Biden tries to move on his climate agenda without Republican consent.
On Sunday, Mr Manchin appeared on ABC's "This Week" and was asked if the president would have to cater to his agenda.
He replied "not at all."
Mr Manchin was one of eight Democratic Senators who defected to vote against the $15 minimum wage provision in the coronavirus relief package.
Campaign donors to Mr Manchin include PACs from the oil, natural gas, electric and mining industries.
Coal mining and other energy industries dominate West Virginia's economy.
Despite his threats, Mr Manchin said he was confident he could secure Republican votes to ensure that Mr Biden's infrastructure bill is passed, so long as it is done without reconciliation.
The cost of that package is expected to be between $2 trillion and $4 trillion.
