Senator Sherrod Brown, a vulnerable Senate Democrat from Ohio, is poised to join a bipartisan effort aimed at dismantling a key funding mechanism for President Biden’s electric vehicles plan. The effort entails a Congressional Review Act resolution that seeks to eliminate tax credit rules supported by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Representative Carol Miller (R-WV), Representative Jared Golden (D-MA), Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), as reported by Punchbowl News. These rules provided tax credits ranging from $4,000 to $7,500 for the purchase of new and used electric vehicles.
Senator Brown, along with Senator Manchin, have expressed concerns that the new EV tax credit rules would grant automakers excessive flexibility in sourcing materials, particularly from supply chains dominated by China. Senator Brown has been a vocal critic of Chinese electric vehicles, urging President Biden to ban them entirely. He warned of the threat Chinese EVs pose to the American auto industry and advocated for safeguards against what he views as unfair competition enabled by Chinese government subsidies.
By aligning with Senator Manchin, Senator Brown is likely to bolster support for the resolution and secure passage in the Senate, contingent upon Republican backing. Despite the potential initial success in passing the resolution, it is expected to face a veto from President Biden. Nonetheless, the effort to challenge the administration’s EV agenda could potentially strengthen Senator Brown’s position as he faces a tough reelection battle against challenger Bernie Moreno.
Source: [Truth Voices](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/15/congress/durbin-open-to-blue-slip-deal-00158168)
