Manchin Ramps Up Electric Car Tax Credit Clash With Biden

Senator Joe Manchin escalated his argument with the Biden administration over how the president's key climate law is being implemented, which Manchin claims overemphasizes renewable energy technologies, shifts away from fossil-fuel production, and spends too much.

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"They simply want to throw caution to the wind and throw more money out and throw more money from the Treasury and credits that aren't going to expedite how soon we can be completely self-sufficient," West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin said on "Fox News Sunday."

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Meanwhile, on "State of the Union," Manchin stated that he would not rule out legal action to halt the administration's interpretation of the Act.

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"I'm looking at every possible alternative to make sure the bill is fulfilled and generally implemented the way it was intended," he added.

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The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, was enacted last year with Manchin's backing after he, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, and Biden hashed out a deal behind closed doors that avoided the traditional legislative procedure.

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The law makes billions of dollars available to boost the manufacturing and purchase of electric cars through subsidies and tax credits.

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Manchin claims that the administration is deviating from Congress' goal by not investing enough in domestic fossil fuel development. It has also been overly lax in enabling foreign automakers to obtain some car credits, he claims.

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Some senators, like Washington Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, have expressed worry about how the Treasury determines which nations may supply battery materials for automobiles eligible for credits.

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"I'm going to fight, and I'm going to fight hard and I hope that my Democratic and Republican colleagues in the legislature share my sentiments and will join us in holding the administration's feet to the fire, Manchin said."

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