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Sen. Joe Manchin III retreated Tuesday under bipartisan opposition to his proposal to fast-track energy projects, pulling the plan from a stopgap spending bill in a move that likely clears the way for Senate passage of the overall measure to keep the government open past Friday.
The move to strip Mr. Manchin’s provision from the must-pass spending bill allowed the conservative West Virginia Democrat to avoid an embarrassing legislative defeat amid solid bipartisan resistance.
Such a public blunder, Mr. Manchin argued, would make the U.S. look weak to adversaries such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It is unfortunate that members of the United States Senate are allowing politics to put the energy security of our nation at risk,” Mr. Manchin said in a statement. “A failed vote on something as critical as comprehensive permitting reform only serves to embolden leaders like Putin who wish to see America fail.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer agreed to move forward with Tuesday’s procedural vote to advance the spending bill that would fund the government through Dec.
