“Joe’s been pushed pretty hard,” Manchin said. To hear Manchin tell it, Biden is caught between his personal views and a more progressive Democratic Party that runs much of the day-to day-work in his administration. Manchin is not nearly as cool to Biden as he was toward former President Barack Obama, whom he did not support in the 2012 election. In a statement, spokesperson Michael Kikukawa said that Biden “has great respect for Senator Manchin and communicates with him frequently about the important task of implementing the Inflation Reduction Act in a way that achieves President Biden’s and Congress’ goals.” On Tuesday evening during the State of the Union, Biden stated that “We’re still going to need oil and gas for a while,” adding that it would be at least 10 years, if not more, before the country can wean itself off those fuels.Īnd the White House is done going after Manchin. The president is subtly working to smooth things over. It was only 14 months ago that the senator pulled the plug on the sweeping, more expensive and liberal-leaning party-line bill known as “Build Back Better,” with the White House accusing him of a “breach of his commitments to the president.” Since, the two Joes have rekindled their partnership - until the last few weeks. This is not the nadir of relations between the president and Manchin. 3 Senate Republican and the ranking member of the Energy Committee. Only a full repeal would fix it,” said Sen. “It’s clear the Democrats have no clue what they voted for. “I recognize that this is a tense and challenging dynamic, but one where I hope to be able to contribute,” Coons said.Īnd Republicans, all of whom opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, are reveling in the discord. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a close Biden ally, recently traveled to Europe with Manchin and is among those hoping to turn down the temperature. Still, at the moment the schism is alarming enough that Democrats are working to patch things over. West Virginia continues to depend on energy production for its economy, and Manchin’s fight to preserve a fossil-fuel bridge to a clean energy future may play well there. Some in the administration and the Senate see Manchin’s moves as catering to his state’s conservative voters as he considers whether to run again for six more years in deep-red territory. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is openly skeptical of the Biden administration’s response to the Chinese spy balloon that flew over his state last week, and he will hold a hearing Thursday on it. And being at odds with the White House is just good politics for red-state Democrats. Manchin’s approval ratings back home took a hit after he supported the Inflation Reduction Act. “I will continue to fight and I’ll do everything I can to make sure the public knows what they’re doing and what it will do to you and your economy and your lifestyle.” So they’re gonna basically starve us out of energy that we have a tremendous, abundant supply of because of their aspirational thoughts?” Manchin said of fellow Democrats who want to quickly transition the nation away from oil and gas. is on track to energy independence as a result of it, according to a person briefed on the meeting who spoke candidly on condition of anonymity. reliance on fossil fuels.Īt Wednesday’s Senate Democratic retreat, Manchin handed out a one-page summary of his perspective on the proposal he revived last summer in a nearly singlehanded show of force, telling colleagues that the U.S. So as he weighs a bid for reelection, he’s touting the power of the bill he wrote in order to puncture Democratic hopes of ending U.S. Notably, the Manchin-backed law also requires new sales of oil and gas leases that his progressive colleagues might otherwise have opposed. He dislikes the public perception of the law he insisted on calling the Inflation Reduction Act, which he sees as an energy security measure rather than a climate change-fighting one - a distinction with a political difference in a deep-red, fossil-fuel state like West Virginia. What’s more, Manchin’s grievances go beyond just the tax credit. And as Energy Committee chair, he has the power to wreak havoc by slowing down nominees, hauling in Biden officials for public testimony and pushing legislation against the administration’s wishes. He’s still undecided on reelection next year in a state that’s critical to keeping their Senate majority. “I just totally and absolutely am disagreeing with what they’re doing.”Ī frustrated Manchin is nothing new for Democrats, but the current situation is plainly untenable for them. Which is crazy, ludicrous thinking for the federal government,” Manchin said in an interview this week. “They almost act like they gotta send $7,500 or a person won’t buy a car.
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