Democrats can begin rebuilding their brand with permitting reform

If the Democratic Party is serious about rebuilding its working-class brand in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s landslide reelection, it should prove that it can be the party that builds things again. Namely, by supporting bipartisan permitting reform in the lame-duck Congress.

Sens. Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY) have been working in conjunction with House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) for months on the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. This legislation is designed to ease the construction of much-needed energy infrastructure.