Concerns Over Inflation Kills Senate’s Climate Change Bill | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation. The author of this post is Brittany Raymer.

    An effort to pass a slimmed down "Build Back Better" bill, with $375 billion for climate change, dies in the Senate thanks to West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. A moderate Democrat from a conservative state, Manchin has become a lynchpin in containing wildly liberal and progressive legislation and spending that could have fueled the nation's inflationary spiral.

    This week, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) revealed that inflation hit 9.1% annualized rate, that's another 40-year high.

    Legislators seem to have no desire to address the issue, and instead want to continue blowing out government spending and potentially increasing taxes, which is one of the biggest factors causing inflation in the first place.

    The latest proposed bill being debated around the Senate included a measure that would add $375 billion for climate change. Manchin announced late on Thursday night that he could not in good conscience support such a measure. Though he did support one that would address drug pricing issues and avoid hikes to the Affordable Care Act premiums that were due to kick in next month.

    "Political headlines are of no value to the millions of Americans struggling to afford groceries and gas as inflation soars to 9.1%," Manchin's spokesperson Sam Runyon said in a statement.

    "Senator Manchin believes it's time for leaders to put political agendas aside, reevaluate and adjust to the economic realities the country faces to avoid taking steps that add fuel to the inflation fire."

    Of course, climate change politicians and activists were not pleased.

    "I'm not going to sugar coat my disappointment here, especially since nearly all issues in the climate and energy space had been resolved," said Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). "This is our last chance to prevent the most catastrophic - and costly - effects of climate change."

    League of Conservation Voters Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld was even more direct, stating, "There truly aren't words for how appalled, outraged, and disappointed we are."

    "Senator Manchin had every opportunity to stand up for climate, jobs and justice, and save families money when they need it most, but instead he is choosing to stand with polluters. We urge him to reconsider - our children's future depends on it."

    It doesn't appear that the Democrats have any intention of alleviating the "costly" effects of climate change activism draining bank accounts across the country, nor does it address the obvious question of how or if the United States could get high carbon emission countries like China and India to do the same.

    The do or die scenario that the Democrats have embraced when it comes to climate change is not leading the country to energy independence but destruction. Through blowing out government spending on unreliable and expensive so-called green energy is not a solution but a problem, especially given the state of international politics. It also puts Americans at a disadvantage by overspending and burdening current and future generations with greater taxes on top of increasing inflation and high energy costs.

    It's a lose, lose scenario.

    The Democrats may think that a tax increase only on "the rich" would be a strong talking point for the midterm elections. It's not. At this point, Americans want to know that their tax dollars aren't being wasted by a Congress more interested in placating the most radical elements of its party, rather than addressing issues impacting everyday Americans.

    Did you know that inflation is costing North Carolinians an extra $8,000 per year? Find out more here.