(RoyalPatriot.com )- Republicans have the ball in their court as Democrats are scrambling to find agreement to an energy permitting reform plan negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. The energy permitting plan was reportedly a compromise between the two Democrats—Manchin would sign onto the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act and Schumer passes an energy plan that would expedite the approval of energy projects in his state.
The issue now, however, is that Democrats opposed to Manchin’s measure are reneging their promise. Over 70 Democratic members of the House signed onto a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting that she not honor the agreement since the lower chamber was never party to it.
Manchin mentioned previous Republican support for the measure, but Republicans are now not budging as a result of what they see as a huge capitulation to a spending bill.
“If you’re now looking for Republicans to support and give you more cover than you have right now, you’re not going to find it with us,” Republican Sen. John Barrasso said.
“So far what Joe’s put out is a one-page template…and like I said, it’s not very ambitious in my view,” said Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer. “It’s not enough for me to get to ‘yes,’ because frankly I don’t know why I would want to facilitate mediocrity.”
On top of all that, Manchin’s junior senator, Republican Shelley Moore Capito has introduced a competing bill for energy permitting reform that has Republican’s turning away from Manchin.
The lonesome West Virginia senator is not only struggling with members of Senate, the House, and those within his own party, but his popularity is crumbling amongst voters as well. After his role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, Manchin is the least popular politician in the U.S. with just 11% having a favorable view of him.
Schumer has told Manchin that he will get the measure passed by including it as a rider on a continuing budget resolution, which he hopes would garner Democratic support when amongst other favorable agenda items, but Democrats doubt this will work.
“I don’t know how a CR vote will go if it includes the permitting rider, but the opposition is loud and only getting louder,” said Arizona Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.
