Furious AOC says Manchin has no authority to speak on climate ‘for the rest of our term here’

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York criticised Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia for his call to pause discussions on climate negotiations, saying he has no authority to discuss climate change.

On Friday, Mr Manchin said that he wanted to pause negotiations with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on climate and taxation aspects in Democrats’ proposed social spending legislation that they would try to pass through reconciliation, which would allow them to sidestep a filibuster.

Mr Manchin said he wanted to wait until inflation numbers for the month of July were released.

But Ms Ocasio-Cortez slammed Mr Manchin.

“Manchin has paused all action for the United States to act on climate for the last four years”, she told The Independent. “So I don't think he has any authority to speak on climate for the rest of our term here.”

Ms Ocasio-Cortez, the main author in the House of the Green New Deal, also said she was optimistic about President Joe Biden potentially declaring a climate emergency, which The Washington Post reported could happen this week.

“Declaring a national emergency provides the president broad authorizations to act on climate”, she said. “I think it's an essential step. And we also need to hear what he plans to do with that.”

But a source told the Associated Press that Mr Biden will hold off on the emergency declaration.

Mr Manchin, for his part, said to wait for congressional action.

“Let’s see what the Congress does. The Congress needs to act”, he said.