Sen. Manchin, of West Virginia, warns Biden administration on Inflation Reduction Act implementation

“They broke their word to the American public. This legislation was balanced,” Manchin told Hannity. “In the next 10 years, we are going to have enough fossil fuel to run our country and to help our allies around the world. We will also be investing in new technology for the future.

“Now, the Biden administration has disregarded this completely. This was about energy security, and we have not heard a word about energy security out of their mouths since it was passed. It’s all about the environment.”

The IRA, negotiated between Manchin and Democratic leaders after Manchin opposed the even larger $1.75 trillion Build Back Better social spending bill in 2021, was signed into law by Biden last summer with Manchin by his side.

To get the IRA through the Senate without needing 60 votes for cloture, the budget reconciliation process was used to avoid a Republican filibuster and pass the bill by a simple majority.

The IRA included $437 billion in spending on new investments in clean energy, climate change mitigation, health care and prescription drug price reform and funding for western drought resiliency. It also included $300 billion for reduction of the national deficit.

The IRA is paid for with $737 billion in new revenues, including a 15% corporate minimum tax on book revenue $1 billion or greater reported by corporations on financial statements to investors, a 1% fee on stock buybacks by corporations, savings from prescription drug pricing reform, and funding to hire 86,000 additional IRS employees.

Manchin has spent the last several months promoting the benefits of the IRA for West Virginia, including tax incentives for carbon capture programs, clean hydrogen manufacturing using the state’s natural gas supply, and energy storage manufacturing.

However, Manchin has been vocal in expressing concerns about how the IRA is being implemented. He recently accused the Treasury Department of skirting the clear provisions of the IRA that require electric vehicle manufacturers to source their battery materials from domestic sources when possible or from friendly nations. Treasury Department rules appear to allow more countries to participate than what Manchin believes should have been allowed.

Manchin increased the temperature Monday night, telling Hannity that if the Biden administration continues in the way it is implementing the IRA, he would actively work to undo the nearly year-old law.

“Let me be very clear. If the administration does not honor what they said they would do, and continue to liberalize what we are supposed to invest in over the next 10 years, I will do everything in my power to prevent that from happening,” Manchin said. “And if they don’t change, then I would vote to repeal my own bill.”

Manchin has yet to announce whether he will seek reelection to the Senate in 2024. Manchin won a special election in 2010 to succeed the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd. He won election to a full six-year term in 2012 and a second term in 2018. Manchin said he will make a decision on re-election at the end of the year.

Since supporting the Inflation Reduction Act, Manchin has seen his popularity in West Virginia slip. In Morning Consult’s quarterly U.S. Senate poll conducted between Jan. 1 and March 31, Manchin’s job approval rating was 38% and his disapproval rating was 55% with 8% unsure or having no opinion.