Energy Permitting Reform Bill May Be Attached To NDAA

Joshua Siegel at Politico has reported that "Democratic leaders are making a last-gasp effort to attach energy permitting reform language onto the must-pass [National Defence Authorisation Act]," which is expected to be released today.

• Siegel says the move is "an attempt to jam Republicans by daring them to vote against Congress’ annual defense policy bill," a move which GOP lawmakers have historically been reluctant to do.
• Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND): “They’d [Democrats] have to believe it won’t cost many NDAA votes and they’re probably correct."
• Consideration of the permitting bill, proposed by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), was promised to Manchin as part of a quid-pro-quo with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in the summer.
• The bill would deliver a boon to Manchin's home state, West Virginia, by clearing opposition to the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
• Schumer will be keen to deliver a win for Manchin ahead of the 2024 Senate election, where Manchin is considered the most vulnerable Democrat incumbent, and likely the only Democrat capable of holding off Republican efforts to flip the seat.