Joe Manchin and Climate Change

Senator Joe Manchin has made waves in the Senate over the last couple of days with his rejection of the budget bill. On Thursday, Senator Manchin(D-W.Va) told majority Senate Leader Chuck Schumer(D-NY) that he wouldn't support climate provisions in the Democrat's reconciliation package.

This led many within the Democratic party, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, to speak their mind about the situation. In an interview with ABC News on Sunday morning, Sanders stated, "I made it clear that you have people like Manchin, Sinema to a lesser degree, who are intentionally sabotaging the President's agenda." Sanders also called Manchin "a guy who is a significant recipient of fossil fuel money. This alludes to Enersystems, a coal brokerage created in 1988 by Joe Manchin.

A recent financial disclosure reported that Manchin had between 1 and 5 million dollars worth of holdings in the company for 2021. Manchin may be supporting the climate change aspect of the reconciliation package due to his business rather than what he believes is best for his constituents, party, and, most importantly, the country.

If the Democrats fail to get the package through before August recess, it could have a significant effect on the midterm elections in October.