Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said on March 10 that he will not advance Laura Daniel-Davis’ nomination to be the assistant secretary for lands and minerals management at the Interior Department.
Manchin emphasized that he will not support anyone who agrees with the “erroneous logic” of an internal memo that the Interior Department mistakenly posted to its website on March 3.
This is not the first time Manchin has spoken out against President Joe Biden’s nominees.
“It is a sad day for our country and our democracy when dominant industries, with assistance from unlimited dark money, get to choose their regulators,” she said. “And with the help of their friends in the Senate, the powerful cable and media companies have done just that.”
Manchin also opposed the nomination of Daniel Werfel, President Joe Biden’s choice to head the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“I have zero faith he will be given the autonomy to perform the job in accordance with the law, and for that reason, I cannot support his nomination,” Manchin said.
Daniel-Davis’ nomination was seen as part of the administration’s promise to pursue officials that would fight climate change.
Manchin criticized the Biden administration’s implementation of the climate, tax, and healthcare bills in the op-ed, claiming that the administration “continues to ignore congressional intent on critical components” of the legislation.
If that persists, according to Manchin, there will be “consequences now and in the future.”