Wanting retribution for Democratic West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin supporting his Party’s legislative agenda to secure major Congressional wins, Senate Minority Leader and Chelonian-American Mitch McConnell continues to try to whip his caucus for votes to oppose Manchin’s Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022, which would ease some permitting regulation while promoting renewable energy development, Politico reports.
EISA would speed the permitting required for some energy projects, including streamlining environmental reviews, a policy Republicans promoted as a policy agenda they would to push for themselves during previous Congressional campaigns. However, because this is being pushed by a Democrat, Manchin, who supported programs Republicans don’t like–including pretty much everything put forth by President Joe Biden–McConnell is pushing his members to screw Manchin over.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had made a deal with Manchin for his support on a variety of legislation including the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS bill, promising to bring his bill to the floor and lobbying his members to support the bill. Still, Manchin needs to get at least 10–and more likely 12-14– Republicans to pass the legislation because of the 60-vote threshold and some Democrats who won’t support the bill because of environmental concerns.