After Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) cast his vote in favor of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, his constituents in West Virginia are not pleased with him.
As recent as May, 57% of West Virginia residents thought Manchin was doing a good job representing their state in the Senate.
According to the findings of a recent survey conducted by the radio station WMOV in West Virginia, this proportion has recently dropped to just 26%.
2024
Worse for Manchin, the same survey suggests he would be defeated in a race for reelection if he faced West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey or GOP Representative Alex Mooney (R-WV).
The next time Manchin will have to seek reelection is in 2024.
It is difficult to think Manchin would risk his entire career in the Senate for a piece of legislation that is as meaningless as the Inflation Reduction Act.
Remember when Bill Gates paid Joe Manchin to betray the voters of West Virginia, and America?
— Matthew H (@MattH_4America) September 9, 2022
To begin, the Congressional Budget Office reported yesterday the plan will actually contribute to an increase in the federal deficit all the way through the year 2026.
When his flagship piece of legislation actually increased the inflation rate, it will be difficult for him to persuade voters in 2024 that he contributed to lowering inflation.
Permitting Deal
Manchin may be placing his hopes on a secret agreement that he made with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
This focused on different legislation to finish a pipeline to West Virginia and make policy changes to the national environment allowing laws that drive up the cost of building projects.
The problem is the socialists who are a part of Manchin’s Democrat Party will not let his plan to change permitting be successful.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) announced on Thursday he would be issuing a letter along with 59 other House Democrats expressing their opposition to the permits arrangement proposed by Manchin.
If 60 Democrats in the House of Representatives vote against allowing reform, the measure will fail to pass.
Bernie Sanders says he’ll vote against keeping the government open if Manchin’s ‘disastrous side-deal’ on energy is included https://t.co/VRqlO1MhE7 via @Yahoo
— RWLatstetter #BERNIE2024 (@latstetter) September 9, 2022
The fact that not all carbon-cutting initiatives in Biden’s initial Build Back Better legislation were included in the Inflation Reduction Act is the best thing that can be stated about the Inflation Reduction Act.
In West Virginia, these measures would have resulted in the loss of jobs and an increase in the price of energy. Manchin deserves some credit for putting an end to the anguish caused by Biden’s BBB and he got it.
The people of West Virginia showed their approval by voting for him.
However, the people have never really bought into the premise that the Inflation Reduction Act would actually be effective in reducing inflation. Instead, the overwhelming majority of them have the correct belief that it will make prices go up.
The election in 2024 is a long way off. It’s possible Manchin can deliver a victory for West Virginia voters that is acceptable to both parties if Republicans win control of the Senate this November.
Though 26% is a low percentage. It could even fall lower if the legislation proposed by Manchin to change permission laws is not passed.
This article appeared in The Political Globe and has been published here with permission.
