Why We’re Downgrading the Odds on Permitting Reform

Former Sen. Joe Manchin says he's "tickled to death" about the bipartisan permitting reform bill now waiting for a Senate vote. He puts the odds it becomes law at "well past 50%." We'd love to believe him. We don't. On Oct. 5 we called passage "a coin flip, maybe a little better" (see Bipartisan Permitting Bill Takes Aim at NY’s Pipeline Veto Power). Two weeks of fresh reporting has us downgrading that call. House Democrats are openly saying, "wait," the big green groups can't decide what they think, and the Nov. 3 election could sink the deal no matter which party wins. Below are links to two new articles, one from POLITICO (Manchin's victory lap) and one from The Washington Sun (Big Green's identity crisis), plus our reasons for doubting Joe.

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