Michael Hiltzik: Democrats are talking about means-testing more social programs. What a terrible idea

With battle lines being drawn on Capitol Hill over what to cut or trim out of President Joe Biden's multitrillion-dollar Build Back Better bill, Democrats are making positive noises about means-testing the social programs in the bill.

This is an old idea for limiting the reach of government programs. It's also a terrible idea. The majority Democrats should shun it.

The principal figure in the means-testing camp is Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., who seems to be popping up lately wherever an obnoxious option for whittling down the bill is needed.

Manchin's particular target, according to Axios, is the child tax credit. The credit happens to be one of the more positive developments in government programs to come out of Washington in years, so why not cut it back, seems to be the theme.