Defenders of workers’ rights and climate policy condemn the latest statements by Senator Joe Manchin opposing the provisions of the Build Back Better Act, the $ 1.75 trillion social spending and climate action program that has already was considerably weakened in large part because of objections from the right-wing Democrat. to many anti-poverty and environmental measures.
the most recent from Manchin
opposition is to tax incentives for electric vehicles made by American workers represented by unions.
“Our climate is running out of time, but Manchin wants to stand in the way of affordable and sustainable solutions.”
At an event last week with officials from Toyota, whose workers at the plant do not have union representation, Senator
Recount Automotive News that encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles from the only three unionized automakers – American companies Ford, General Motors and Chrysler – would be “un-American” and “bogus.”
“We shouldn’t be using taxpayer dollars to pick winners and losers,†Manchin told the outlet at the event, where Toyota
announcement it would invest $ 240 million in an unorganized plant in West Virginia to produce hybrid vehicles.
Toyota and other foreign automakers have lobbied against this provision, while United Auto Workers (UAW) has
expressed support. If passed as written now, the Build Back Better Act
to bring to buyers of electric vehicles with a maximum tax credit of $ 7,500, and would add a credit of $ 4,500 to the starting credit if the vehicle is manufactured by unionized workers.
As
Earthling reported On Monday, the tax incentive could have a major impact on the ability of Americans to buy vehicles that are not solely dependent on fossil fuels, because “the price still remains the main obstacle to preventing new [electric vehicle] adoption.”
A
2020 survey by Ipsos Global showed that consumers would be willing to pay only 10% more for electric vehicles. The
tax credit would reduce the cost of some electric vehicles from $ 12,000 to about $ 20,000, well below the current average cost of about $ 42,000.
President Joe Biden
noted last month he wanted workers and businesses that benefit from the tax incentive to be “here in Michigan, not halfway around the world.”
Ray Curry, president of the UAW, said last month that the tax incentive “would be a victory for auto manufacturing workers” while encouraging “non-union manufacturers to let their workers organize freely.”
Obviously, writer and lawyer David Lurie
noted, “Manchin thinks that being pro-Labor is not American.”
Join Opponents of the tax incentive are Republican lawmakers, including Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Whose states would also benefit from promoting the purchase of electric vehicles from non-union companies like Nissan and Tesla.
Now, said the progressive campaign group Our Revolution, Manchin’s opposition to tax credits is “inexcusable”.
“Our climate is running out of time, but Manchin wants to stand in the way of affordable and sustainable solutions”
noted the group. “Shame!”
