One of the last centrist Democrats, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is an endangered species in need of a political reservation. He may find one as the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The possibility of a senator from coal country overseeing the energy industry has infuriated environmentalists and progressives alike, including at least two potential presidential contenders, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer. The progressive action group CREDO recently summed up outrage, telling Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., “anyone but Manchin for ranking member on Energy Committee.”
Not all Democrats have declared open season though. They have downplayed the damage Manchin could do.
“On climate, we’re going to make decisions collectively as a caucus. Nobody in our caucus has a veto over climate policy — whether they’re a ranking member on a committee or not,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told Politico.
This is true. Manchin won’t turn his colleagues into coal-burning, oil-guzzling fossil fuel fans. It is also true that his colleagues know they need Manchin.
The senator just won re-election in a state President Trump carried by 40 points. He has a blue-collar credibility now in short supply after the defeats of Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind. Manchin can talk healthcare, the opioid crisis, and jobs with an authority that Schumer will find useful in the runup to 2020.
Political utility doesn’t downplay legitimate conflicts of interest, of course. Manchin has accepted nearly $750,000 from coal barons and another $419,000 from oil men since coming to office eight years ago according to the Center for Responsive Politics. They will be coming to collect should Manchin get the top spot on the energy committee. But the fact is, Republicans will control that committee anyway.
One of the newest House Democrats had the best line of criticism on Manchin. “I have concerns over the senator’s chairmanship just because I do not believe that we should be financed by the industries that we are supposed to be legislating and regulating and touching with our legislation,” said Rep-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
The political advantages outweigh those good government concerns for now. Manchin is too valuable in other areas not to get the nod.
