On Wednesday, The Daily Caller reported that the Senate voted to overturn the Biden administration’s new rule on heavy-duty vehicle emissions, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The vote was 50-49, with Senator Manchin voting to overturn. All other Democrats voted to keep the rule in place. (Can you tell that Senator Manchin faces a serious election challenge next year?)
The article reports:
By a vote of 50-49, the resolution to overturn the rule passed, with all Republicans and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia voting in favor, while the remainder of Democrats and Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona voted against. Its passage is a win for Senate Republicans, who were able to pass the bill largely on party lines despite Democratic control of the Senate.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 89, who is recovering from shingles in her home state and whose absence, amid her old age, has led several Democrats to call for her resignation, was not present. Had she voted “Yes,” the vote would have ended in a tie at 50-50, which could’ve been broken by Vice President Kamala Harris to prevent the resolution’s passage.
It should be noted that the bill now heads for the House of Representatives where it is likely to pass. The bill then goes to President Biden who will likely veto it. There will not be enough votes to override that veto, so essentially Senator Manchin’s vote means nothing. It this were a situation where the Democrats needed his vote (as in the Inflation Reduction Act), he would vote with the Democrats. That’s how the system works. Senator Manchin is facing a tough re-election battle, so whenever possible, he is allowed to vote as a moderate. However, when the chips are down, the Democrats can count on his vote.
The article concludes:
Manchin, who gave the GOP the single vote needed to pass the bill — which, under the Congressional Review Act to review regulations, is not subject to a Senate filibuster — said that he would be joining Republicans to “stop this government overreach,” he said in a written statement.
The resolution now heads to the House, where the Republican majority is expected to approve it. President Joe Biden is certain to veto the resolution, which would make it only the third veto of a Congressional bill during his presidency, and the rule remains in effect unless he signs the bill or it is repealed.