In the News
Manchin: DOD spending largely contractor expenses | The Martinsburg Journal
by Rachel Molenda
CHARLESTON - U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin held a roundtable discussion Wednesday in order to review and assess ways in which Congress can cut military spending while continuing to strengthen the nation's defense. Manchin's remarks were broadcast to several remote locations, including one in Martinsburg. During the talk, held at the National Guard Tire Rebuild in Charleston, Manchin compared the cost efficiency of hiring private contractors for overseas work, versus investing funds in military … Continue Reading
August 29, 2012
Tomblin, Manchin discuss problems, successes in state | The State Journal
by Andrea Lannom
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Sen. Joe Manchin spoke about West Virginia's successes and plans for future success during the Aug. 29 portion of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting and Business Summit. During the opening lunch, Tomblin told members the state has improved finances by increasing reserves, addressing liabilities and balancing the budget. "We have addressed teachers, judges and troopers retirement initiatives and workers' compensation," Tomblin told members. … Continue Reading
August 28, 2012
DuPont signs on to hire veterans | Charleston Gazette
by Paul Nyden
BELLE, W.Va. -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., joined DuPont officials Tuesday to announce that the company is the first national corporation to endorse the "I Hire Veterans" project. "When the company hires new employees, 10 percent will be veterans," Manchin said Tuesday morning outside the company's plant in Belle. DuPont plans to hire 30 to 50 additional people during the next year, said James O'Connor, manager of DuPont's facilities in Belle. "It is our goal that this plant will continue … Continue Reading
August 22, 2012
Manchin wants end to political gridlock | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Brett Dunlap
PARKERSBURG - In order to move the country forward, elected officials must find common ground and work together, a U.S. senator told a group of residents in Parkersburg Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., attended a roundtable discussion at the Wood County Senior Citizens Association with more than 50 people in attendance to discuss issues facing the country and seniors. The discussion covered health care, tax fairness, the economy, immigration laws, the solvency of Social Security, … Continue Reading
August 03, 2012
Manchin: Staggering debt threatening America’s future | The Beckley Register-Herald
by Mannix Porterfield
CHARLESTON - Exactly one decade from now, if Congress does nothing to deal with the nation's staggering debt, the share facing every man, woman and child is expected to reach $79,000. As of now, the debt of individuals stands at $50,700. "But it's only going to get worse if we don't do our job and fix it," says Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who plans to headline a special, bi-partisan summit on the nation's debt next month in the West Virginia capital. Within two decades, Manchin says, … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012
Debt nation’s ‘greatest threat,’ | Times West Virginian
by Katie Wilson
FAIRMONT - Since he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., has made job creation and fiscal responsibility priorities. Now he's putting the Mountain State at the forefront of the nationwide fiscal crisis, hosting a bipartisan financial discussion in Charleston in September. "Our Finances and Our Future: A Bipartisan Conversation About the Facts" will be held Sept. 10 in the state Culture Center in Charleston and will feature former Republican Sen. Alan … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012
Refocus Attention On National Debt | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Editorial
Democrats and Republicans share blame for the nation's staggering debt, soon to top $16 trillion. But because their party controls the White House now, few Democrats in Congress seem anxious about deficit spending. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is an exception. On Sept. 10 he will do an enormous service to those who understand spending beyond our nation's means simply has to stop. On that day, at the state Culture Center in Charleston, Manchin will host an event of national … Continue Reading
August 01, 2012
Coal scores legal victory | Bluefield Daily Telegraph
by Mannix Porterfield
CHARLESTON - West Virginia scored no small victory Tuesday in the "war against coal" with the Environmental Protection Agency, but industry leaders were cautious that a ruling that the Obama administration exceeded its powers in water quality criteria might be ignored. In his decision, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in the nation's capital ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by Sen. Joe Manchin when he was governor of West Virginia. In essence, the judge ruled that the EPA exceeded its … Continue Reading
July 23, 2012
Manchin votes to provide tax incentives for business who move back to United States | The Hagerstown Herald-Mail
by Matthew Umstead
MARTINSBURG, W.Va.- While "really proud" to have Macy's new distribution facility in West Virginia, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin said last week that he would love more of the giant retailer's products to be manufactured here, too. A day after taking part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 1.3-million-square-foot Macy's facility in Berkeley County, Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., voted Thursday for legislation that would have provided tax incentives to encourage … Continue Reading
July 14, 2012
Common sense argument: Manchin is right about Afghanistan | Bluefield Daily Telegraph
by Editorial
Common sense is something that has been sorely lacking in Washington in recent months. And common sense would suggest that America shouldn't be spending $94 million to upgrade the electrical grid in Afghanistan one week after thousands of West Virginia and Virginia residents were left in the dark without power and water. Instead, we should be using that money to improve our own electrical grid, or at least to build new roads, bridges or schools back home, as correctly argued on the Senate … Continue Reading
July 11, 2012
Manchin speaks against overseas investment | West Virginia Public Broadcasting
by Cecelia Mason
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin says he's disappointed that the federal government is making sure there's electricity in Afghanistan while thousands of Americans remain without power. Manchin is upset that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is awarding a $94 million contract to provide reliable power in Afghanistan. He spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate today. "So I thought, how I could explain this back home?" he said. "We're providing reliable power to the Afghans when nearly … Continue Reading
June 19, 2012
NYT Reports Senator Manchin Fighting Lobbying Efforts to Sink New Controls on Painkillers
Washington, D.C. - In case you missed it, the New York Times is highlighting efforts by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to fight prescription drug abuse by putting stricter controls on the highly-addictive painkiller hydrocodone. The provision was unanimously added to the Senate version of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act on May 23, but was not included in the House bill. "I am determined to see this thing through. I'm not giving up on this. This measure will pass, whether it … Continue Reading
June 17, 2012
State has lots to offer with energy: Coal has been ‘driving force,’ but West Virginia is using other resources | Times West Virginian
by Nicole Fields
FAIRMONT - Coal. Natural gas. Water. Wind. They're all proven energy sources. And they can all be found right here in West Virginia. State and federal leaders saw that firsthand during a tour Friday and Saturday when they traveled throughout the Mountain State to see just what it has to offer in terms of reliable energy, whether it comes in the form of coal and natural gas or other sources such as water and wind. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., was joined by members of the … Continue Reading
June 17, 2012
Manchin shows off W.Va’s energy portfolio | The Beckley Register-Herald
by Sarah Plummer
- Sen. Joe Manchin invited members from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to visit West Virginia's energy sites this weekend to demonstrate the state's ability to utilize diverse energy resources and to be a model for energy independence. Manchin showed Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, West Virginia's coalfields, wind farms, hydroelectric plants, Marcellus Shale sites and solar energy portfolio. Manchin said they visited the ends of the state, from … Continue Reading
June 16, 2012
Childhood obesity — Nutritional guidelines make sense | Bluefield Daily Telegraph
With childhood obesity rates in the nation at a record high, a West Virginia lawmaker is asking Congress to develop, implement and promote new national dietary guidelines for pregnant women and children up to age 2. No such standards currently exist. The amendment was jointly introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. It requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop and implement … Continue Reading
June 15, 2012
Senators Get Look At WV Energy Sites | West Virginia MetroNews
Two members of the U.S. Senate, not from West Virginia, are getting a close-up look at different ways energy is produced in the Mountain State. Senators Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, began a two-day tour Friday. They are traveling the state as guests of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. All three are members of the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee and either Murkowski or Wyden will likely be the chair of the committee next year. The first stop on the tour was … Continue Reading
June 14, 2012
Veterans Job Caucus supports those who serve | Williamson Daily News
by Julia Roberts Goad
When construction workers and staff are hired for the new coal-to-liquid plant at Wharncliffe, Adams Fork Energy will give preference to those who have served: the country's military veterans. The plant will become one of the businesses that is participating in the "I Hire Veterans" initiative formed by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and other legislators. Adam Victor, CEO of TransGas, the company that is building the plant, said he will participate in the initiative when construction … Continue Reading
June 14, 2012
Nutrition guidelines wanted for toddlers | The Beckley Register-Herald
by Mannix Porterfield
Specific guidelines in the proper nutrition for toddlers and pregnant women are the goal of Sen. Joe Manchin in an amendment put before the Senate Wednesday, targeting the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. Mindful of obesity rates at record levels, Manchin co-sponsored the amendment to a farm bill with Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., one that obligates both federal agencies to form, implement and promote dietary guidelines for children up to 2 years old and expectant … Continue Reading
June 13, 2012
W.Va. finances among best in U.S.; $850 million in Rainy Day fund | Charleston Gazette
by Phil Kabler
West Virginia is faring better than many states financially, according to a report released Tuesday. The state will finish the 2011-12 budget year June 30 with $850 million in its Rainy Day surplus funds - the fifth-largest such fund by dollar amount in the U.S., and third largest as a percentage of the state's operating budget, at 20 percent. The fund is projected to grow to $900 million, or 21.4 percent of the annual budget, by June 2013, according to the Spring 2012 Fiscal Survey of … Continue Reading
June 12, 2012
Manchin, Republicans Fight Mercury Emission Rule | WVNS News
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Joe Manchin is joining a Republican senator's lead on formally marking disapproval of federal power plant emissions limits. Manchin has previously introduced legislation that would delay the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's Utility Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. The standards are designed to limit exposure to mercury and other air toxics from U.S. power plants. "From the day I arrived in the Senate, I have been determined to stop the … Continue Reading
