"Manchin could not answer"

Of course not - because he doesn't have a clue what the number should actually be - he just thinks that the proposed amount is too much. If the proposed number had been $100 for infrastructure he'd still say it's too much.

When one of these public "servants" argues that $15/hr is way to high for a minimum wage and then muses it should be closer to $12.50, it's painfully obvious they are acting like someone bargaining at the swap meet. No concept of actual value, they can only argue against the number they see on the price tag.