Biden Selects Wife of West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin to Head Key Federal Commission Post

President Joe Biden has now selected Gayle Conelly Manchin to help run the Appalachian Regional Commission, in what many are seeing as a sign of shameless pandering on Biden’s part.

Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat has quickly become one of the most powerful forces in the U.S. Senate as his support as a perceived ‘moderate’ is required in order for Democrats to pass any and all legislation.

As Fox News reports:
 

She’s been married for 53 years to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a critical vote in the Senate for Biden if he wants to get any of his major legislative priorities passed.

With Democrats holding the slimmest of majorities with a 50-50 split and Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, Manchin’s influence in the Senate has grown tremendously.

As a moderate from a red state, Manchin has openly pushed back on some of the Democrats’ boldest ideas, including the $15 minimum wage, eliminating the filibuster and far-reaching gun control legislation. His resistance has forced concessions.

For example, during the passage of $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief legislation where Democrats needed to be totally united, Manchin and the White House were in negotiations that ultimately led to reducing the amount of unemployment insurance benefits in the final package that passed along party lines.