Manchin blasts Biden and Democrats’ ‘craziness’ on gas stove plans
Jack Birle
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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) criticized the Biden administration for its environmental regulations, arguing that eliminating appliances, such as gas stoves, is not the way to push for change toward a cleaner environment.
The West Virginia Democrat spoke out against the Department of Energy‘s proposed efficiency and conservation standards for household appliances, which many say would ban most gas stoves, to Fox News.
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“You cannot eliminate your way to a cleaner environment,” Manchin said.
“It’s not going to work. It’s not feasible. It won’t be done. The rest of the world won’t follow, and Asia is going to produce about 90% of all pollution in the next 10 years. It’s where all the pollution is coming from. Innovation is the only way to go. If you want a clean environment, then you have to do it through technology and innovation.”
The House of Representatives passed the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act by a 240-180 vote on Tuesday. The bill prevents federal funds from being used to “regulate a gas stove as a banned hazardous product” under the Consumer Product Safety Act, along with preventing federal funds from imposing or enforcing a rule “that would otherwise result in a prohibition on the use or sale of gas stoves in the United States or would otherwise substantially increase the average price of gas stoves in the United States.”
A nearly identical bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Manchin in February, which has yet to be voted on in the chamber. Manchin appears confident the bill will get the support necessary to get the legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk.
“Telling me I can’t buy something because you want the market to change and switch to something different and it’s not going to have a relevant change in the environment is absolutely ridiculous. That’s when you’re going to get all the pushback. I’m going to be pushing back,” Manchin said.
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“I can assure you in our committee, we’re not supporting any of the craziness,” he continued.
Biden has not said whether or not he would veto legislation blocking the proposed Department of Energy rule, but the president has not been afraid to use his veto power on Republican-led bills that received some Democratic support, including several energy-related bills.