Biden Promises “Strong” Executive Action on Climate

President Joe Biden said he would take “strong executive action” on climate change following the apparent failure of Senate Democrats to reach a deal on major green energy legislation.

The pledge is a response to news that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), a centrist who has been the main holdout in the Democrat-only reconciliation process, said he isn’t prepared to support new climate spending and tax hikes right now because of high inflation.

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“If the Senate will not move to tackle the climate crisis and strengthen our domestic clean energy industry, I will take strong executive action to meet this moment,” Biden said in a statement.

He added that his actions “will create jobs, improve our energy security, bolster domestic manufacturing and supply chains, protect us from oil and gas price hikes in the future, and address climate change.”

Biden called on Democrats to pass much narrower legislation focused on preserving expanded Obamacare subsidies and letting Medicare negotiate lower prices of prescription drugs directly with pharmaceutical companies. Such a measure could get Manchin’s support and pass through the reconciliation process, which allows for avoiding the filibuster and enacting legislation with only a simple majority in the Senate.

Reports published Thursday said that Manchin resolved not to support new taxes or spending on climate change mitigation measures as part of the spending deal Democrats are negotiating, setting off anger and frustration among colleagues who had been negotiating with him and environmental groups.

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Manchin disputed the characterization that he pulled the plug entirely on negotiations, telling a West Virginia radio host on Friday that he told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer he wanted to see July’s inflation numbers before committing to a deal.