As it stands, Manchin could become the senior Democrat on the committee because of his seniority if current ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) moves to the Senate Commerce Committee, as expected. WASHINGTON ― High profile progressives and climate advocates are urging Senate Democrats not to give coal-friendly Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) a top post on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which deals with much of the nation’s energy policy and use of federal lands. “It’s time for progressives to band together and take a real, meaningful stand for combating climate change. Appointing Senator Joe Manchin to lead Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee would be the opposite of that,” Inslee wrote in an email to supporters on Tuesday. and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) ― support the burgeoning effort in the House for a so-called Green New Deal to address climate change and income inequality.

Source: Huffington Post December 06, 2018 22:52 UTC