US Senator Joe Manchin threw his fellow Democrat US President Joe Biden following the accidental release of a memo, suggesting that charging fossil fuel companies less to drill would provide “greater energy security” despite its plans to hike royalty fees.
On Friday, frustrated Senator Manchin seemingly suggested that there are other presidential candidates who are better than Joe Biden.
“Are you going to endorse Joe Biden if he runs for re-election? He’s the leader of your party.” Manchin was asked.
“No, the bottom line is let’s see who’s involved,” Manchin responded, before adding “Well, I support him if he runs.”
He also released a statement on the same day, responding to the accidental leak of the memo.
“The Department of the Interior mistakenly posted an internal memo making recommendations to Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Laura Daniel Davis, on the Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale 258 mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act,” Manchin lamented.
“I am appalled by its contents, which make crystal clear that this administration is literally putting their radical climate agenda ahead of the needs of the people of Alaska and the United States,” he added, before blasting Biden’s administration for ignoring the Congress’ intent, pandering to environmental groups “at the expense of shoring up American energy security and keeping Americans safe.”
Q: “Are you going to endorse Joe Biden if he runs for re-election?”
JOE MANCHIN: “Oh, there’s plenty of time for the election.”
Q: “He’s the leader of your party…”
MANCHIN: “No, the bottom line is let’s see who’s involved.” pic.twitter.com/INedsa4daN— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 5, 2023
“The contents of this memo speak volumes – if this is what this Administration truly believes and is how they are going to make decisions, it is unacceptable,” the West Virginia senator continued. “It’s a clear and intentional threat to energy security and the all-of-the above energy policy Congress has consistently reinforced. I will not support anyone who agrees with this type of misguided reasoning.” Manchin argued.
The controversy arose after the memo was leaked sparking outrage among Democrats and the public.
In the memo, Former Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Amanda Lefton wrote that “if a Cook Inlet prospect would be developed, there would be additional government revenues and greater energy security for the State of Alaska, especially if development of natural gas resources in the Cook Inlet ameliorated the long-term supply challenges facing the Anchorage area.”
According to the reports, Lefton specifically recommended the federal government to charge drillers with a royalty fee of 18.75% as opposed to an alternative of 16.67%.
She explained that it would attract more bids and “be more likely to facilitate expeditious and orderly development of [offshore] resources.”
“Nevertheless, because of the serious challenges facing the Nation from climate change and the impact of [greenhouse gasses] from fossil fuels, BOEM is not recommending this option since it would not include an appropriate surcharge to account for those impacts,” she added.
The recommendation was then signed off by DOI Assistant Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis, agreeing with a fee of 18.75% “because this rate constitutes the most reasonable balancing of environmental and economic factors for the American public.”
