Democrats ditch Manchin’s ‘dirty deal’ after opposition from climate activists

Senator had proposed to attach energy bill to appropriations legislation but plan fails amid criticism of party leadership

A last-ditch effort to force through legislation that would weaken environmental protections and fast-track energy projects has failed.

Joe Manchin, the fossil fuel-friendly senator from West Virginia, had attempted to latch the controversial deregulation and permitting reforms to a must-pass defense bill - after failing to get his so-called dirty deal" passed earlier this year.