In the News
Manchin hopes to 'CALM' fiscal cliff storm | The State Journal
by Whitney Burdette
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has been pushing for bipartisan compromise on the national budget since he stepped foot in the U.S. Senate chambers. But as the so-called fiscal cliff looms, Manchin is taking action. Manchin introduced the Cliff Alleviation at the Last Minute Act, or CALM Act, Dec. 30, fewer than 36 hours before tax hikes and sequestration go into effect for 2013. Manchin's plan would alleviate the worst effects of the cliff while providing a path to a long-term solution, according … Continue Reading
December 20, 2012
Manchin’s comments deserve some discussion | The Martinsburg Journal
by Editorial
Comments by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin concerning how to prevent violence such as that at a school in Newtown, Conn., were controversial, to say the least. Manchin seemed to indicate he is willing to consider some new federal limits on what types of firearms Americans can own. But it is important to note Manchin, D-W.Va., said much more in comments to a reporter this week. Consideration of his opinions as a whole should not be limited by the bitter disputes that will result from what he said … Continue Reading
December 10, 2012
West Virginia Senator Discusses Future of Sugar Grove Naval Base | WHSV
PENDLETON COUNTY, Va. -- Nearly 200 sailors and their families, who are stationed at the Sugar Grove base, will move out within the next three years. Regardless of the move, lawmakers want to make sure the facility will be put to use. Sen. Joe Manchin said he was planning to meet with some people from the Navy on Tuesday to answer his questions about people leaving Sugar Grove and to find out what is next for the base. The meeting was canceled because of the weather, but Manchin said he … Continue Reading
December 06, 2012
Senators join call for relief funds | Charleston Daily Mail
by Jared Hunt
For the second day in a row, members of the state's Congressional delegation pressed federal emergency officials for more disaster aid to fund Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, both D-W.Va., also pushed the White House and Congress to make sure West Virginia gets its fair share of aid. "Supplemental recovery funding is critical, and I hope that it will transcend the politics that have too often left this institution gridlocked," Rockefeller … Continue Reading
December 06, 2012
Manchin: D.C. Should Act More Like BEST | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Joselyn King
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin he believes Washington should look to the local Project BEST organization to learn the value of cooperation. Manchin, D-W.Va., came from Washington to speak as Project BEST celebrated the holiday season with its annual breakfast Wednesday at Oglebay Park in Wheeling. More than 400 turned out for the 26th annual event. Project BEST stands for "building efficiency by striving together." The group is a cooperative effort involving building trades contractors and craftspeople … Continue Reading
December 04, 2012
Manchin seeks public input on budget | Charleston Daily Mail
by Zack Harold
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - With the United States drawing ever closer to the so-called "fiscal cliff," Sen. Joe Manchin spent part of Monday seeking input from constituents on how to fix the country's budget problems. If Congress does not pass a new budget plan before Jan. 1, 2013, tax cuts introduced during President George Bush's administration will automatically expire and $1.2 trillion will be cut from the budget over the next 10 years. Speaking at the "People Before Politics" conference at the … Continue Reading
December 04, 2012
Manchin laments failure of disabilities treaty | The Charleston Gazette
by Paul J. Nyden
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin criticized Republicans in the Senate on Tuesday for failing to ratify an international treaty to protect the rights of people with disabilities around the world. The Senate voted 61 to 38 in favor of the treaty, called the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, but it needed 66 votes to pass. All 38 votes against the treaty came from Republicans. Eight Republicans joined Democrats and two independents in voting for the treaty. Former … Continue Reading
November 29, 2012
Manchin supports resolution to end war in Afghanistan | The Charleston Gazette
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., spoke on the Senate floor Thursday, helping lead efforts to pass a resolution to end the war in Afghanistan by 2014. Manchin was an original co-sponsor of the amendment, which passed 62-33. Manchin said 66,000 American combat troops remain in Afghanistan. President Obama plans to reduce their number at "a steady pace" until they are home by the end of 2014. "I would prefer a faster pace, as long as it didn't jeopardize the safety of the troops. … Continue Reading
November 20, 2012
Small-town values: Joe Manchin applies ‘common-sense solutions’ in political career | Times West Virginian
by Jonathan Williams
(Editor's note: This is the next story in a series about politicians from recent history who have had a profound impact on West Virginia.) FAIRMONT - There's no definitive guide on how to be a successful politician, but if some enterprising soul were to sit down and try to write it, the first chapter would be about identifying with voters. Political careers have been forged and destroyed by whether the candidate seems like "one of us" or "out of touch." For that reason, just about every … Continue Reading
November 15, 2012
Lawmakers optimistic energy deals can get done | Politico
by Andrew Restuccia
After two years of gridlock and endless campaigning, lawmakers from both parties are optimistic that the winds are finally favorable for progress on energy legislation. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's energy and power subcommittee, said he hopes to meet soon with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the incoming chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to discuss areas of compromise. "I think we have a lot of areas where we have … Continue Reading
November 15, 2012
What's next? | The Beckley Register-Herald
by Editorial
Southern West Virginia could use some good news. Like the provision of more accessible and improved roadways. More developed land. And more long term jobs. Yet, it appears that the federal government, the Environmental Protection Agency specifically, is stymieing efforts to bring much needed progress to our region - once again. Recently, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, Rep. Nick Rahall and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin each publicly expressed their displeasure with the … Continue Reading
October 24, 2012
Manchin: Repair Internal Problems | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Daniel Dorsch
MOUNDSVILLE - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he wants to focus on fixing the internal problems of West Virginia and America. "Other nations think that we will destroy ourselves from within," Manchin said at the Democrat headquarters on Jefferson Avenue in Moundsville Tuesday. "We've got to do something big and bold in order to fix this country." As election season draws to a close, Manchin urged his fellow elected officials not to get carried away with politics and forget the big … Continue Reading
October 10, 2012
Bipartisanship Not Dead in Washington | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Editorial
Sometimes it seems partisanship has become the foundation of government policy in Washington. Democrats and Republicans seem to agree on very little, it often appears. Such is not the case, of course, though during an election campaign that can be difficult to discern. This week U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. - who has made it a priority to work against partisanship for its own sake - became a target in the Republican vs. Democrat nastiness. A fellow senator, Republican Rand Paul of … Continue Reading
October 09, 2012
Senator Manchin received a warm Taylor County welcome | The Grafton Mountain Statesman
by Bobby Jennings
GRAFTON - The dining room at Strike 12 Restaurant was filled with local officials, politicians, and business owners late Thursday afternoon for United States Senator Joe Manchin's visit. Manchin, who knows no stranger in Taylor County, greeted the crowd with confidence, expressing a genuine appreciation for everyone in attendance. Of all those present for the meeting, the most surprised with the visit had to have been Chris Loftis, the new owner of the facility. Loftis was invited by … Continue Reading
October 09, 2012
Sen. Joe Manchin focuses on veteran’s health services | The Elkins Inter-Mountain
With military suicide rates at record highs, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., added his voice to major suicide prevention efforts from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The Army held a global, service-wide "stand-down" to combat the alarmingly high suicide rate among our nation's servicemembers and veterans. The departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense have been focusing on communicating with veterans, as well as their friends and family, who might be the first to recognize … Continue Reading
October 04, 2012
Always Free Honor Flight helps honor ‘true American heroes’ | Bluefield Daily Telegraph
by Marcus Constantino
WASHINGTON - Vietnam veteran Ernie Baker searched the tens of thousands of names at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Wednesday in Washington. With the help of an attendant, he walked to a column of names, scanned his eyes down and slowly moved his finger to the name of his former neighbor in Raysel. "There he is," Baker said frankly, looking back at his brother, Johnny, and pointing at the name "GRAT ALBERT KEENE" engraved into the cold slate. The memorials bring back harsh realities to … Continue Reading
September 29, 2012
Manchin seeks more state sovereignty | The Huntington Herald-Dispatch
by Bill Rosenberger
HUNTINGTON -- Joe Manchin's re-election campaign to the U.S. Senate is leading him to talk less about his opponent, Republican John Raese, and more about the things he has learned since becoming a senator two years ago in a special election. Manchin spoke Friday with The Herald-Dispatch editorial board for about 70 minutes, focusing on the state of the nation, the lackluster job of Congress as a whole and some areas he knows West Virginia residents are emotional about. Those areas … Continue Reading
September 23, 2012
Congress puts focus on election while the rest of America is waiting | Times West Virginian
by Editorial
We've seen the ads. We've heard the campaign promises. But while most members of Congress are focused on the election, the rest of America is waiting. Just what are we waiting for? The list seems endless. Let's start with postal reform. The U.S. Postal Service lost more than $5 billion in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. According to published reports, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, who has said that the Postal Service needs to cut $22.5 billion from its annual … Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
Manchin to D.C.: More work, less campaigning | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Brett Dunlap
WASHINGTON - There is work to be done on the nation's financial woes and a U.S. senator from West Virginia believes elected officials should be in Washington, D.C., addressing them. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate Thursday, urging everyone to stay, roll up their sleeves and get down to work addressing the nation's financial crisis instead of putting it off and heading home to campaign for the November election. The Senate considered a temporary … Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
Manchin ‘ashamed’ that politics trumps fiscal reforms | The Beckley Register-Herald
by Mannix Porterfield
An irritated and "ashamed" Sen. Joe Manchin chastised his Capitol Hill colleagues Thursday for hitting the hustings to court voters rather than burn the midnight oil to deal with America's spiraling debt crisis. Manchin recalled the lament of President Harry Truman in castigating the 80th Congress as "do nothing" and wondered how "give 'em Hell" Harry would define this one. Even with the stalemate in the early 1950s, he noted, Truman could take satisfaction in knowing 900 of his bills … Continue Reading
