WASHINGTON – Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., said on Wednesday that he will vote to confirm the nominated Deb Haaland as secretary of the interior, a significant boost to his prospects.
In a statement, Manchin said that “although we do not agree on all issues, she reaffirmed her strong commitment to bipartisanship, meeting the diverse needs of our country and maintaining our nation’s energy independence”.
Manchin’s decisive vote is closely observed in disputes over nominations, especially after he spoke out against President Joe Biden’s nominee for chief budget, Neera Tanden, on Friday, a move that put his prospects in doubt.
The centrist senator praised Haaland’s bipartisan credentials.
“His colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including energy-rich Alaskan Republican Congressman Don Young, talked about his productive working relationship, his bipartisan achievements and sincere willingness to work collaboratively on important issues,” said Manchin
“In addition, she reiterated the position of the Biden government that our country will continue to use fossil fuels for years to come, even as we transition to a cleaner energy future through innovation, not elimination,” continued Manchin. “In addition, she made clear her commitment to work to extend the critical abandoned mine land rates set to expire this year that affect countless states.”
It is unclear how much support Haaland will receive from the Republicans, but if all 50 Democratic members are unified, she will not need any vote from the Republican Party to win confirmation.
“She has a lot of opposition,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., Told reporters. “I am not impressed with what I have seen so far. I think she is a radical. I think she is a weird neo-socialist from Lenin.”