West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat recently in the running for secretary of energy, is being pressured to support President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the EPA.
“As you know, the EPA is in dire need of reform,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, wrote in a letter to Manchin asking him to support Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. “Scott Pruitt’s ascension to the EPA post is good for our state.”
Pruitt, like Manchin, opposed EPA regulations on power plants and waterways, and is part of at least two major lawsuits against the agency to overturn the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and Clean Water Rule (CWR). Dozens of other states are also suing the EPA over these rules.
Morrisey’s letter has put Manchin in a tight spot. West Virginia overwhelmingly supported Trump in the election in no small part because of his promise to roll back EPA regulations targeting the coal industry.
That’s something Manchin supports, but the West Virginia Democrat still hasn’t supported Pruitt.
“I look forward to meeting with Attorney General Pruitt and hearing how he intends to right-size the EPA and refocus it in line with the principles that I have set forth in my years of work on behalf of West Virginians,” Manchin wrote in his response to Morrisey.
Manchin consistently bucked his party on energy issues. He signed an amicus brief opposing the CPP, which is expected to force more coal plants to close down and put more coal miners out of work.
Manchin also signed a brief against the CWR, since it could hurt farmers and miners, and has supported legislation to control EPA regulations.
“The leadership of the EPA is vitally important to the future of our state,” Morrisey wrote. “Attorney General Pruitt will move that agency in the right direction and in a manner that benefits the citizens of our state and our country.”
West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito has already endorsed Pruitt.
Trump considered Manchin for energy secretary, according to media reports, but ended up offering the cabinet spot to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Manchin’s fellow Democrats have largely come out against Pruitt, and have promised to put up a fight during his confirmation hearings over his questioning of man-made global warming.
“We have a fight on our hands and Republicans have to do a moral gut check and a political one,” Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz told Politico. “This is absolutely a fight worth having and we’re ready for it.”
Manchin has no stance on Pruitt, but said the Oklahoma law enforcer had an “impressive resume.” Manchin is not expected to block Pruitt’s Senate confirmation.
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