Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) was one of the key forces behind the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in 2022. But since it passed, he has evolved his views of the legislation and its implementation.
Manchin, once a fierce champion of the bill, has questioned the ways the Biden administration has carried out the law. Since the original incarnation of President Joe Biden's climate and healthcare bill, Manchin has been a critic and a deciding vote.
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Here is a look at Manchin's evolution regarding the Inflation Reduction Act.
Oct. 28, 2021: Biden announced the framework for his "Build Back Better Plan," touting the social welfare and climate change initiatives in the nearly $1.75 trillion bill. The White House said the framework was announced after hearing from several sides, including Manchin.
Nov. 19, 2021: The Democratic majority in the House of Representatives voted to advance the Build Back Better Act in a 220-212 vote on party lines, with only one Democratic representative voting against the legislation.
Dec. 19, 2021: After nearly a month of attempting to negotiate a path forward in the Senate, Manchin said he is a "no" on the bill. The West Virginia Democrat explained he could not support the bill due to its cost during high inflation. Because the Senate was evenly tied between Republicans and Democrats, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tiebreaker, the bill was effectively killed.
April 2022: As talks mounted that the Biden administration was attempting to revive the Build Back Better Plan, Manchin told reporters, "There’s not a Build Back Better revival.”
July 27, 2022: After months of negotiations behind the scenes, Manchin announced an agreement for a new path forward for several of Biden's Build Back Better initiatives in the Inflation Reduction Act. Manchin focused on his belief the legislation would help relieve citizens from high inflation despite the focus on climate and healthcare spending in the bill.
“Rather than risking more inflation with trillions in new spending, this bill will cut the inflation taxes Americans are paying, lower the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs, and ensure our country invests in the energy security and climate change solutions we need to remain a global superpower through innovation rather than elimination," Manchin said.
Aug. 16, 2022: The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by Biden at a ceremony at the White House. Manchin was in attendance for the event.
February 2023: Manchin was reportedly frustrated with how the Inflation Reduction Act has been implemented, specifically over how tax credits for electric vehicles had been rolled out. He also expressed his concerns over pushes to move away from oil and gas immediately, calling the proposals "bulls***" to Politico.
“So they’re gonna basically starve us out of energy that we have a tremendous, abundant supply of because of their aspirational thoughts?” Manchin said. “I will continue to fight, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure the public knows what they’re doing and what it will do to you and your economy and your lifestyle.”
April 2023: While speaking on Fox News's Hannity, Manchin floated the idea of voting to repeal the bill if the Biden administration does not make good on energy security promises in the legislation.
"Let me be very clear: If the administration does not honor what they said they would do and continue to liberalize what we are supposed to invest in over the next 10 years, I will do everything in my power to prevent that from happening," Manchin said. "And if they don't change, then I would vote to repeal my own bill."
Aug. 16, 2023: On the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, Manchin released a statement saying he plans to wage an "unrelenting fight" to prevent the Biden administration's "radical climate agenda" from being implemented with the bill as opposed to the initiatives in the legislation.
“Make no mistake, the IRA is exactly the kind of legislation that in normal political times both political parties would proudly embrace because it is about putting the interests of Americans and West Virginians first," Manchin said.
"Going forward I will push back on those who seek to undermine this significant legislation for their respective political agenda, and that begins with my unrelenting fight against the Biden administration’s efforts to implement the IRA as a radical climate agenda instead of implementing the IRA that was passed into law."
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Manchin did not attend Biden's event at the White House on Wednesday commemorating the anniversary of the legislation despite being a driving force behind the bill.
The West Virginia Democrat, widely viewed as one of the most vulnerable incumbents in 2024, has not said whether he will run for reelection to his Senate seat next year. Manchin has also left the door open to running for president as a third-party candidate in 2024. He is expected to make a decision on his 2024 plans by the end of the year.