Critics of EPA’s new emissions rule for cars and small trucks suffered an initial defeat in the Senate on Thursday afternoon.
The chamber rejected Finance ranking member Mike Crapo’s legislation, S. 4072, against the new tailpipe standards by a vote of 52-46. Leaders promised Crapo a roll call last month as part of a deal to prevent a government shutdown.
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) joined Republicans in voting for the legislation, but they weren’t enough to overcome the 60-vote threshold. Tester and Brown are in tough reelection campaigns.
“This rule should have never happened,” said Manchin, accusing Democrats and the administration of wanting to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles beyond what the Inflation Reduction Act envisioned and beyond what the grid can tolerate.
