The promise 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 ready to back new climate spending and tax hikes right now because of high inflation.
"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."
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Biden called on Democrats to pass much narrower legislation centered on keeping expanded Obamacare subsidies and letting Medicare negotiate lower prices of prescription drugs directly with pharmaceutical companies. Such a measure could get Manchin's approval and pass through the reconciliation process, which allows for avoiding the filibuster and passing legislation with only a simple majority in the Senate.
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Reports issued Thursday said that Manchin resolved not to back 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 argued 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.
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Senate Democrats have reportedly reached a deal with Manchin on a drug pricing measure that would allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs, and the text of that provision is under review by the parliamentarian.
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However, the agreement is just a small piece of a larger puzzle for Senate Democrats, who back the drug pricing measure universally. While no final deal has been reached, negotiations have reportedly centered on a target of spending $500 billion and raising $1 trillion in revenue.
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After months of negotiations and a larger House-passed version of the bill, Manchin said shortly before Christmas that he would not vote for the $2.4 trillion social welfare and green energy bill, arguing its price tag was too high. Manchin’s position frustrated Democratic leadership, who had already trimmed the bill in an attempt to negotiate with him, and sparked the wrath of progressives who
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