Once again Joe Manchin has used the same excuse to kill President Biden's BBB legislation. The first time was early in Biden's Presidency when he said "what's the rush" he needed more time. Last week he used the same excuse again saying he wanted to wait until July was over and see what the inflation numbers look like before he takes up BBB again. At the present he only supports legislation concerning prescription drug reform and Obamacare funding.
Manchin is ignorant concerning the economy and how it works. The President's BBB legislation addresses the inflation issue and there is no need to wait for future inflation reports. Biden's COVID relief legislation passed early in his first year and was a priority because he knew it would prime the economy and put America back to work. The President did not take a wait and see attitude before passing the legislation like Manchin wants to do now on BBB for the second time.
At the same time Manchin announced he would not support BBB and blamed it on inflation, General Motors announced that the company and its partners Pilot Travel Centers and EVgo would build 2,000 charging stalls at up to 500 Pilot Flying J sites across the nation. The plug in charging sites would be at 50 mile intervals along U.S. highways. Construction will start this summer and the new infrastructure will work with the company's goal to build only electric passenger vehicles by 2035 and Biden's promise during the campaign to build 500,000 charging stations by 2030.
General Motors decision is a boost to the clean energy proposed by the President to fight climate change and the company can see a bright future for climate change despite inflation that Manchin clearly does not understand because he is beholden to the present fossil fuel energy industry. Climate change is part of the President's BBB legislation that Manchin objects to. Manchin's negative attitude toward BBB displays how childish he really is. On the other hand General Motors attitude is positive on the economy and climate change as indicated on their above commitment and are not waiting on the July inflation report.
President Clinton's administration faced a similar problem early in his first term when his economic plan was introduced in his very first budget. He too had a split Senate and his budget and economic plan raised taxes on the highest tax bracket and corporate America. Several democrats in the Senate opposed the legislation but in the end all 51 democratic Senators voted for the budget and the President's legislation. The GOP opposed the bill, claiming it would increase the deficit, cause a recession, increase unemployment and blow out the national debt. But just the opposite took place. Those democratic senators who came around and voted for the legislation served their country, the people and their party well. They put their ego aside for a higher calling.
Senator Joe Manchin has done just the opposite. He has turned his back on the party, the people and his country and in favor of keeping the status quo with the present energy industry and their special interest.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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