(TheRedWire.com) – Last summer, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) agreed to support the Inflation Reduction Act if Democratic leaders would include his legislation overhauling oil and gas drilling permits. The law would make it temporarily easier for energy companies to produce more products for consumers and bring down prices. However, in September, Democrats rejected the senator’s proposal as an addendum to the Continuing Appropriations Act. Recently, multiple watchdog organizations warned Pelosi about inserting the proposal into an upcoming defense bill because environmental groups labeled it a “Dirty Deal.”
On Sunday, a report surfaced that Pelosi was talking with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) about inserting Manchin’s proposal in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). On Monday, December 5, a group of 750 organizations warned that the permitting legislation was an attack on environmental justice communities and the climate. They said it would gut the National Environmental Policy Act.
"Every lawmaker who is accountable to their constituents, especially those facing the most severe environmental injustices, must do all in their power to block this bill." https://t.co/7YKt697D6b
— Common Dreams (@commondreams) December 6, 2022
Environmentalists argued that Congress should kill the “dirty deal” for good and said it served oil companies supporting Manchin. On Tuesday, December 6, Democrats ditched the proposal’s inclusion in the NDAA. The West Virginia Senator previously warned that stripping the measure from consideration would profoundly affect American energy independence and the economy.
He called on politicians to use common sense ahead of toxic tribal politics. He stated Washington politicians’ failures to put the greater good ahead of special interests caused many Americans to hate national politics.
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