Manchin Surprised by McConnell’s Opposition to His Energy Permitting Legislation

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, presides over a hearing on battery technology, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, on Sept. 22, 2022. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he didn’t expect Senate Republicans, particularly Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), to oppose his energy-permitting reform legislation.

Manchin voiced his surprise about the GOP opposition in an interview with Fox News on Sept. 26, before adding that he was not surprised he wouldn’t have the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the nominal Independents who often joined the Democrats in voting.