Schumer vows to keep deal with Manchin, pass energy permitting reform

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised on Wednesday to keep his end of the bargain with West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin after the two struck an agreement to pass a $740 billion spending package earlier this year.

“Our intention is to add it to the CR [continuing resolution],” Schumer said, per The Hill.

Manchin announced in late July that he and Schumer had struck a deal in which the West Virginia moderate would vote for the spending package in exchange for a separate bill to reform the permitting process for energy projects that would benefit his state.

Following the passage of the "Inflation Reduction Act," as it came to be known, a number of House Democrats publicly eschewed the notion that they would uphold Schumer's bargain. 

"We sure as hell don't owe Joe Manchin anything now," Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib said in August.

Manchin, for his part, warned House Democrats to uphold the deal.

At least 40 Democrats have signed a letter demanding a separate vote on the permitting reform, according to The Hill, a proposition that would likely make it more difficult to pass given the Democrats' slim House majority and uncertain Republican leanings on the matter.