Although it is generally insane for the Congress to be even considering a multitrillion-dollar hand-out as hyperinflation is already threatening to destroy the entire economy, it appears that at least the most insane portion of the bill—$150 billion to bribe energy companies to switch to unreliable and primitive wind and solar, and to punish those that don’t—is being dropped. Sources in the White House told various reporters that Biden gave in to West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin’s insistence that he would not vote for any bill with that section in it. “White House staffers are now rewriting the legislation without that climate provision, and are trying to cobble together a mix of other policies that could also cut emissions,” the New York Times wrote today.
If true, it is yet another blow to the COP26 fiasco scheduled to begin on Halloween in Glasgow, which Biden plans to attend. China, Vietnam and other countries have already announced an expansion of their coal-fired electricity plans. It were best that the conference were simply cancelled, but at least it has a good chance to be a total failure.
Manchin does not, unfortunately, question the fake science behind the attack on fossil fuels. His spokesman, Sam Runyon, wrote in an email, “Senator Manchin has clearly expressed his concerns about using taxpayer dollars to pay private companies to do things they’re already doing. He continues to support efforts to combat climate change while protecting American energy independence and ensuring our energy reliability.”
