Toward the end of the legislation raising the debt ceiling, listed provisions detail congressional support for various permits and the like for the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
This seems like a worthy project. It does not look like the concession that the Biden administration describes it as or the win that Kevin McCarthy makes it out to be.
Last year, Joe Manchin received from Democrats this same concession in exchange for his vote for the Inflation Reduction Act. The New York Times reported on this deal last year, so the idea that Kevin McCarthy securing from Democrats what they promised to support last year represents a “win” rather than a fake talking point to justify going further into debt seems a stretch.
One wonders if, like the sonic screwdriver in Doctor Who, the Mountain Valley Pipeline continues to work as a lifesaver for Democrats, and Republicans who need PR cover for doing the other party’s bidding, on future legislation guaranteeing a “living” wage, delivering childcare for all (including the childless), and paying for all things Ukraine.
Well, at least they yielded on the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Either Democrats did not live up to their promises made to Manchin last year, or this year we all got, to borrow from gasoline lingo, hosed.
Subscribe to The American Spectator to receive the entirety of Dan Flynn’s Spectator A.M. newsletter.
READ MORE: