West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin sent shockwaves throughout Washington, D.C., when he announced that he had come to an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the green-energy, tax-raising bill laughably titled the “Inflation Reduction Act.” Who exactly is he aiming to please with this about-face?
It’s not West Virginians, it seems. Fox News reports Wednesday that very few of his donations to campaign come from West Virginian voters. According to their headline, “just 1% of individual campaign donations are from West Virginians.”
Manchin… received approximately $6.1 million from individual donors who gave more than $200 in aggregate to his campaign between January 2021 and June 30, 2022, according to Federal Elections Commission (FEC) filings.
Sixty-one million dollars. He sounds to have a lot of support. Where exactly do these donations come from?
The West Virginia-based residents received $65,000 in donations, but more than $6 million from people in other states.
Interesting. The “Inflation Reduction Act,” a streamlined, less-expensive version of the failed “Build Back Better” plan, contains all sorts of green-energy handouts and tax hikes, the sort Manchin has in the past said he wouldn’t pass in times of high inflation.
Schumer-Manchin clearly identifies winners and losers.
Losers: Blue collar workers, manufacturers, small business owners, and blue-collar employees.
Losers: Democratic lobbyists, IRS agents and California environmentalist millionaires. pic.twitter.com/zHq6ghB0Jf
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 4, 2022
I wrote a column supporting Manchin in April, saying that even if he wasn’t perfect, he was an essential force in stopping the bloated BBB bill and refusing to end the filibuster. His support and that of Kyrsten Sinema, Democrat from Arizona, has been crucial to stopping the madness that could ensue if Schumer is able to pass any legislation he wishes. He presumably would be able without the filibuster.
Still, it’s hard not to come away with the impression that Manchin has turned his back on his stated values of curbing inflation and not raising taxes in a time of economic turmoil. Bonchie, my fellow colleague points out that by declaring his deal only with Schumer, he effectively stabbed Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell as well as all Republicans. After a microchip deal had passed. McConnell believed Manchin, however, when he stated that no massive reconciliation bill is on the table.
Manchin indicated previously that he wouldn’t agree to massive spending bills until inflation was under control. Unfortunately, he broke his promise, and now the combination of more spending and taxes being passed onto consumers will likely lead to even higher prices…
Let’s just say that Sen. Mitch McConnell was completely manipulated.
Manchin has yet to announce whether he plans on running again in the 2024 election. If he does, he can be sure that he’ll face a formidable GOP opponent. Slippery moves like this won’t go over well with his voters, even if a majority of his donations come from out of state. Fox reports:
Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) told Politico Manchin wouldn’t be able to convince his supporters that the bill was good for West Virginia.
“It’s not good for the state, and I think it’s difficult to sell in the state,” Capito said.
The bottom line for Manchin: out-of-staters don’t get to vote in a West Virginia election. That could be bad news for the mercurial Senator, and the “Inflation Reduction Act” could very well be his swan song.
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