Three Senate Democrats crossed the aisle on Wednesday to vote against a plank of the Biden administration’s electric vehicle agenda.
Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Jon Tester of Montana voted with their Republican colleagues to nullify a Federal Highway Administration rule that critics have characterized as an effort to reduce the number of gas-powered cars on America’s roadways. Independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who typically caucuses with Democrats, also voted in favor of the nullification resolution, bringing the final vote tally to 53-47.
The Federal Highway Administration rule would have required state transportation agencies to establish emissions reduction plans for federally-funded roadway projects. The agency unveiled the finalized rule on the day before Thanksgiving 2023.
Two federal judges also…
