Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) knows how to leave a mess behind. The West Virginia centrist Democrat-turned-independent was pivotal in crafting one of the critical pieces of legislation for President Joe Biden’s legacy. Still, now he’s spending his remaining days in the Senate criticizing it. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
Manchin played a significant role in shaping and negotiating the Inflation Reduction Act, a slimmed-down version of Biden’s ambitious $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” plan. Democrats wanted to pass historic climate change legislation. Still, Manchin, ever the speed bump, made sure it included oil and gas provisions. The result? A massive spending bill that did little to lower grocery prices, leaving his constituents scratching their heads.
According to Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Manchin knew supporting the Inflation Reduction Act would likely doom his reelection chances. Hickenlooper told Politico, “He knew it would make his reelection very difficult, if not impossible. He accepted that.” Accepting political reality is one thing, but it’s made his final days in office anything but smooth.
Republicans have been more vocal in criticizing the legislation than Manchin himself. Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV), who is running for Manchin’s Senate seat, didn’t mince words, calling it a “real, real screw-up” for Manchin to back the bill. Manchin’s approval rating plummeted in the deeply red state after he pushed through legislation vital to Biden’s agenda.
Manchin hasn’t held back in criticizing Biden either. He pointed fingers at administration officials for misleading the President about the legislation’s impact, telling Politico’s E&E News, “I have told him that. I said, ‘Sir, they are leading you down the primrose path.’ They truly are. This is not where America is.”
Despite the backlash, the Inflation Reduction Act has led to significant investments in West Virginia. The media reported that the bill has brought over $930 million in assets, including a Form Energy battery factory in Weirton, West Virginia. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Manchin emphasized his bipartisan efforts, saying, “And I’m not making a political statement because when we wrote that bill, when we wrote the energy portion, we wrote it with my Republican friends helping me for the last five years.”
This bipartisan approach sums up Manchin’s congressional career. He’s been a free thinker, never fitting in with either party. Sen. Hickenlooper praised him, saying, “Joe Manchin is fearless. He isn’t in this for the popularity contest.”
But fearlessness doesn’t always translate to good decision-making. Manchin’s involvement in the Inflation Reduction Act has alienated him from both sides. He’s managed to anger Democrats by watering down their climate agenda and frustrate Republicans by even supporting such a massive spending bill.
Manchin’s tenure in the Senate has been a rollercoaster, marked by his willingness to buck party lines and chart his course. However, this independence has left him in political limbo. His actions have cost him popularity in his home state, and his political future looks uncertain at best.
As Manchin exits the Senate, he leaves a legacy of mixed messages and political turbulence. His role in the Inflation Reduction Act exemplifies his complex and often contradictory approach to governance. He’s a senator who has never shied away from making tough decisions, even if they cost him dearly.
In the end, Manchin’s story is about a politician who tried to balance his principles with his party’s demands and his constituents’ expectations. Whether history will judge him kindly is yet to be seen. Still, one thing is sure: Joe Manchin has impacted American politics, for better or worse.
So, as we bid farewell to Senator Manchin, we wonder if his career was a tale of courage or a series of unfortunate missteps. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. Whatever the case, his departure marks the end of an era for West Virginia and the Senate.