Latest news with #MitchCarmichael
Politico
30-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
The GOP war over clean energy comes to head at vote-a-rama
'I'm a lifelong conservative, pro-business, pro-growth Republican from a fossil fuel state that has worked in various roles in state government,' said Mitch Carmichael, the former lieutenant governor of West Virginia who now leads Built for America, a newly launched advocacy group. 'For the life of me … there would be no justification for wanting to add a new tax on domestic energy production. We should be doing everything we can to drive down the cost of energy.' The amendment could set up a clash of Republicans with energy projects planned for their states with staunch conservatives and the Trump administration officials, who vehemently oppose continuing subsidies for intermittent wind and solar resources that they claim are unreliable. Rounds said Monday afternoon he's 'inclined to support' the Ernst-led amendment. His vote, along with the sponsors and all 47 Democrats, would give it majority support in the Senate. 'If [conservatives] get a few more things to save money, we should be able to get this thing moving,' he said. 'It's critical for the electric needs as we get into AI development. We can't do it without wind and solar power.' A key factor to swing its success or failure is whether Senate Budget Chair Lindsey Graham and GOP leaders allow the amendment to proceed on a simple majority vote or a 60-vote supermajority, depending on whether they deem that the senators proposing the amendment have sufficient offsets to make up for the cost of easing the rollbacks. 'We're talking about that,' Graham said in a brief interview Monday. If their bid to amend the bill fails, it would put moderates in a major bind, forcing them to choose between rejecting Trump's agenda or allowing the gutting of tax credits that could lead to canceled projects, job losses and higher electricity prices in their states. But if it succeeds, and the Senate proceeds to pass the megabill with the softer treatment of wind and solar incentives, it would test House conservatives who then would be pressured to back the bill to ensure it meets Trump's July 4 deadline.
Axios
11-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Trump-y ad blitz launched to sway the president on energy credits
A new business-backed group with GOP ties just launched a $2 million, three-week ad blitz to preserve IRA tax credits — and the framing is very Trump-y. Why it matters: It comes during crunch time for hundreds of billions of dollars of tax incentives on the chopping block in the budget reconciliation fight. The big picture: Built for America is placing ads on Fox, Truth Social, Rumble, podcasts and beyond. "Unlike other efforts focused on Congress, Built for America is the only campaign speaking directly to the president and making the case that these energy tax credits are a cornerstone of his pro-worker, pro-growth agenda," the rollout states. State of play: It's not disclosing specific donors, but backers include players in nuclear, carbon capture, hydrogen, critical minerals, storage and more, it said. The executive director is Mitch Carmichael, a Republican who previously served as West Virginia's lieutenant governor and economic development secretary. Republican strategist and former Trump campaign adviser Bryan Lanza is advising the new effort. Driving the news: "Trump country is booming. We're building, hiring and winning in America, because energy tax credits put America first," one of the ads states, touting new jobs and manufacturing. "President Trump, keep what works," it states. Catch up quick: More business interests are pressing the Senate to soften House GOP budget plans that scuttle or restrict IRA energy tax credits. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a new post, is urging preservation of what it calls "pro-growth" credits around hydrogen and clean electricity production. The bottom line: Low-carbon energy industries are increasingly framing their message more around "energy dominance" and less — a lot less — around green goals.
