Manchin blasts Biden's ESG veto, accuses him of putting 'radical policy agenda' ahead of economic security

President Biden is facing scrutiny from 1 mean Democrat successful nan Senate aft he decided to cull bipartisan authorities to forestall his management from enforcing a norm astir utilizing environmental, societal and firm governance (ESG) investments for status accounts.

Shortly aft Biden issued nan first veto of his presidency connected Monday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., took purpose astatine him for his decision, accusing nan president of prioritizing a "radical argumentation agenda" complete nan economical desires of Americans.

"This Administration continues to prioritize their extremist argumentation schedule complete nan economic, power and nationalist information needs of our country, and it is perfectly infuriating," Manchin, who has not declared whether he will activity re-election successful 2024, wrote successful a statement.

Manchin was 1 of 2 Democratic senators who voted pinch Republicans to overturn nan Labor Department norm connected ESG investing, on pinch Montana Sen. Jon Tester. Manchin said Biden's veto came arsenic residents successful Montana are "under expanding accent arsenic we proceed to recover" from nan COVID-19 pandemic.

BIDEN ISSUES FIRST VETO OF HIS PRESIDENCY OVER INFLUENCE FROM 'MAGA REPUBLICANS'

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., left, says President Biden's veto of Republican-led authorities shows he is putting a "radical argumentation agenda" up of nan economical desires of Americans. (Leigh Vogel, Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"West Virginians are nether expanding accent arsenic we proceed to retrieve from a erstwhile successful a procreation pandemic, salary nan bills amid grounds inflation, and look nan largest onshore warfare successful Europe since World War II. The Administration’s unrelenting run to beforehand a extremist societal and biology schedule is only exacerbating these challenges," Manchin said. "This ESG norm will weaken our energy, nationalist and economical information while jeopardizing nan hard-earned status savings of 150 cardinal West Virginians and Americans."

"Despite a clear and bipartisan rejection of nan norm from Congress, President Biden is choosing to put his Administration’s progressive schedule supra nan well-being of nan American people," he added.

After issuing nan veto, Biden defended his determination connected societal media and claimed nan authorities "would put astatine consequence nan status savings" of Americans.

REPUBLICANS TORCH BIDEN VETO OF BIPARTISAN ESG BILL: 'GOOD LUCK EXPLAINING THIS ONE'

"I conscionable signed this veto because nan authorities passed by nan Congress would put astatine consequence nan status savings of individuals crossed nan country," Biden said successful a video shared to Twitter.

The measure would person ended enforcement of a caller Labor Department norm that urged backstage status scheme fiduciaries to see ESG successful their investment decisions.

Under nan rule, fiduciaries that make finance decisions for nan status plans of much than 150 cardinal group would beryllium explicitly permitted nether national guidelines to see companies’ attack to climate change and different societal issues, alternatively of focusing connected only profitability and return connected finance for retirees.

Congressional Republicans, understandably, are besides not happy pinch nan president’s determination to veto nan authorities — particularly measure designer Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky.

Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital that Biden's veto of nan authorities "puts nan ambiance activists and typical liking groups he is beholden to up of middle-class American investors." (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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"President Biden’s first veto is connected a bipartisan, bicameral measurement that I championed done Congress to protect unit investors," Barr told Fox News Digital. "Instead of siding pinch Americans — who are progressively incapable to spend status — Biden’s veto puts nan ambiance activists and typical liking groups he is beholden to up of middle-class American investors."

"It’s a shame, and it further reflects his priorities and who he really represents successful office," Barr added.

With Biden's veto, nan authorities now returns to Congress, but it is improbable to person nan two-thirds mostly support required to flooded a statesmanlike veto.

Fox News' Anders Hagstrom, Houston Keene, and Peter Kasperowicz contributed to this article.