The West Virgina Democratic Senator was siting in the ‘catbird seat’….
Democratic US Senator Shumer and President Biden have had to deal with the guy having veto power over their political agenda in the US Senate…
Democrat’s hate him….
Republican’s love him…
A secret?
Joe Manchin votes WITH Democrats more than 90% of the time even if progressives would like to see him retire to the deepest West Virginia coal mine….
Well?
Democrats offered the Democratic Senator a ‘deal’ he didn’t refuse…..
They will get his vote on Climate Change and taxes in exchange for a pipeline for West Virgina….
Now?
Democrats have to turn to Arizona Democratic US Senator Sinema, who is ‘studying’ the Democratic Senate legislation that the party lawmakers want to go into the November Midterm’s…
To win Manchin’s support for the climate, energy and health-care package that was etched last week, Democratic leaders agreed to attempt to advance separate legislation on expediting energy projects. These changes would fall outside the bounds of the Senate budget procedure the party is using to pass its budget bill, making it impossible for Democrats to approve that with just 51 votes. The new agreement would require 60 votes to be approved and would need GOP support to be signed into law. Republicans have supported similar measures in the past, but the agreement could face defections from liberal Democrats, who have warned against making it easier to open new oil and gas projects.
The 100-seat Senate is now evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, but Vice President Harris can cast a tiebreaking vote.
The side deal would set new two-year limits, or maximum timelines, for environmental reviews for “major” projects, the summary says. It would also aim to streamline the government processes for deciding approvals for energy projects by centralizing decision-making with one lead agency, the summary adds. The bill would also attempt to clear the way for the approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would transport Appalachian shale gas about 300 miles from West Virginia to Virginia. This pipeline is a key priority of Manchin’s….
…
Still, the agreement poses new challenges for Democratic lawmakers who are weighing these permitting changes as the necessary price to pay to secure Manchin’s support for hundreds of billions in new clean energy investments. Climate groups have largely said that trade is worthwhile, because Manchin’s vote on the broader package will unlock long-sought subsidies and tax credits for solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy. But many Democrats have been wary. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said previously: “I really want to see all the details on the permitting. We all knew that any deal that would be struck between Schumer and Manchin would have a lot of fossil fuels in it. The question is on balance.”…