In the News
Manchin Right About Tax Break | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Editorial
It is highly unlikely Congress will refuse to continue the dishonest tax cut President Barack Obama is insisting it act on before the current measure expires Dec. 31. But Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is right to point out the measure is not what some advocates want the public to believe it is. Unless Congress reauthorizes the cut, American working people will lose the 2 percent tax cut now reflected in their paychecks. That would cost the "average" family about $1,000 a year. But the cut is in … Continue Reading
December 01, 2011
Manchin breaks with Obama, Senate leadership on payroll taxes | The Hill
by Josiah Ryan
Centrist Democratic freshman Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) broke with his party's leadership - and President Obama - Thursday by calling for his colleagues to vote against the latest Democratic jobs effort, an extension of the payroll-tax cut. "Why would we do this?" Manchin asked, referring to the bill currently in the Senate's queue that would extend the tax cut for an additional year. "Why would we double down on a policy that didn't work?" Manchin then accused leaders of both parties of … Continue Reading
November 27, 2011
Going Big | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Editorial
"Go big" in reducing deficit spending, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is urging fellow lawmakers. But most of them don't even seem capable of going small. Manchin, D-W.Va., and scores of like-minded senators and members of the House of Representatives have a secret weapon in their deficit-slashing arsenal: next year's elections. In August, Congress was unable to devise a deficit reduction package acceptable to President Barack Obama. His goal is massive tax increases, while thoughtful lawmakers … Continue Reading
November 23, 2011
Manchin: Frustrated, disappointed at supercommittee | Williamson Daily News
by Chad Abshire
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) reacted strongly to the news that the congressional supercomittee admitted defeat in its mission to find a way to reduce America's $15 trillion debt. Manchin issued a statement via email to the Daily News, expressing his dissatisfaction at what he referred to as "the so-called supercommittee." "I am truly disappointed that the supercommittee has failed to meet its mandate," Manchin said, "but this is not a time to admit defeat, and the American people … Continue Reading
November 22, 2011
Manchin Right To Reject Failure | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Editorial
The so-called congressional "supercommittee" charged with recommending how to reduce federal spending by just 3 percent has failed, its 12 members agree. Now it remains to be seen whether a bipartisan group of lawmakers, with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., as one of its leaders, can stage a rescue. For weeks, 12 members of the House of Representatives and Senate have been negotiating over the budget deficit. Their work began this summer, after Congress and President Barack Obama were unable to … Continue Reading
November 21, 2011
Manchin: Failure 'Not an Option' | The State Journal
by Whitney Burdette
In wake of the Congressional supercommittee's Nov. 20 announcement it would fail to propose budget cuts by its self-imposed deadline, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., took to national TV to air his frustrations. "Failure cannot be accepted. We can't fail. We can't allow anybody to fail," he said on CBS's Face the Nation Nov. 20. "I don't' want to be part of a generation that turned over the keys to the next generation with the country in worse shape. That's never happened before, and I'm not going … Continue Reading
November 21, 2011
Manchin's cross-state air pollution vote | Logan Banner
Millions of Americans without jobs - and millions more worried the government will destroy their livelihoods - are in no mood for political partisanship. Yet, that is what they got from the U.S. Senate, with a few notable exceptions. President Barack Obama's assault on the coal industry has used a series of executive-branch edicts, some issued after Congress refused to authorize similar action. But because Obama's Democrat Party controls the Senate, the president and his Environmental … Continue Reading
November 20, 2011
Failure not an option for debt supercommittee, Manchin tells 'Face the Nation' | Charleston Gazette
by Paul Nyden
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Appearing on his first Sunday morning national talk show, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said failure "cannot be an option for the deficit reduction supercommittee." That bipartisan 12-member committee has a Wednesday deadline to come up with legislation to cut the national deficit -- which recently topped $15 trillion -- by $1.2 trillion. Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation," Manchin said if the supercommittee fails to reach agreement on a plan, a bipartisan group of 140 … Continue Reading
November 20, 2011
Manchin: Congress wants Bowles-Simpson revival | CBS News
by Lucy Madison
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Sunday the congressional supercommittee must "step aside" if they can't reach a deal on reducing the deficit before their Wednesday night deadline, and suggested that a substantial number of Congress members would be "stepping forward" to reintroduce a blueprint rejected by Congress in December 2010. Manchin, in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation," said failure by the supercommittee, which has been charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in budget … Continue Reading
November 19, 2011
Manchin Serves W.Va., Not Party | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Mike Myer
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., may be one of the smartest politicians in Washington. Many of his fellow Senate Democrats probably would disagree, but they would be wrong. Something the senator said this week sums it all up. After reviewing his first year in office, Manchin was asked whether he will be voting for President Barack Obama in next year's election. Manchin replied that in making up his mind on that, he will have to think about "what is best for West Virginia." Most Democrats in … Continue Reading
November 16, 2011
Manchin marks his first year as senator | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Brett Dunlap
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Manchin had been a U.S. senator for one year. The senator, who was elected in a special election last year to fill out the remainder of the term of the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, held a telephone press conference with media outlets from around the state from his Capitol office to highlight what he feels he has accomplished in his first year and what he wants to work on for the future. Manchin continually talked about his drive to bring a common sense approach to … Continue Reading
November 16, 2011
Manchin: Coal still significant | Bluefield Daily Telegraph
by Charles Owens
WASHINGTON - One year into office, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin says he is still frustrated over opinions in Washington about coal. "What I'm very frustrated and upset about is they are moving forward like we have this new fuel and we don't need coal anymore," Manchin, D-W.Va., said Tuesday. "Coal is 45 to 50 percent of the energy mix. I'm hoping I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not pushing (coal) just for the sake that we are producing a lot of coal in West Virginia. You just … Continue Reading
November 16, 2011
Manchin marks first year in office | Williamson Daily News
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was sworn in a year ago Tuesday, taking the seat of the late Robert C. Byrd. He shared his proudest accomplishments from his first year in office, even saying he's met all 99 colleagues in the Senate. Since being sworn in to the United States Senate on Nov. 15, 2010, Manchin said he has focused on working across the aisle and bringing his commonsense agenda to Washington, which includes: creating new jobs, getting the financial house in order, keeping … Continue Reading
November 16, 2011
Manchin: Job creation is top priority, Senator reflects on first year in office | The Dominion Post
by Alex Lang
Jobs, jobs and more jobs are some of Sen. Joe ' goals as he moves into his second year in federal office. Energy independence and deficit reduction are on the list, too. Tuesday was ' (D-W.Va.) one-year anniversary in the U.S. Senate. He won the late Robert Byrd's seat in a special election. He reflected on his first year in office and looked to the future during a conference call with reporters from across the state. "The biggest thing is to create jobs. It's still creating jobs," … Continue Reading
November 12, 2011
Manchin Right To Battle EPA | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Editorial
Millions of Americans without jobs - and millions more worried the government will destroy their livelihoods - are in no mood for political partisanship. Yet on Thursday, that is what they got from the U.S. Senate, with a few notable exceptions. President Barack Obama's assault on the coal industry has used a series of executive-branch edicts, some issued after Congress refused to authorize similar action. But because Obama's Democrat Party controls the Senate, the president and his … Continue Reading
November 10, 2011
Special field hearing set to examine potential of Marcellus shale exploration | The Bluefield Daily Telegraph
by Mannix Porterfield
CHARLESTON - While West Virginia lawmakers seek to piece together the final strands of a Marcellus shale regulatory bill, Sen. Joe Manchin is anchoring a special field hearing Monday to look at the fledgling industry from a federal perspective. Lawmakers are conducting a rare, early Sunday meeting at the Capitol, hoping to come to terms on four remaining amendments to a bill that has been the target of study for months by a select committee. Just across town in the federal building, Manchin, … Continue Reading
November 09, 2011
Senate Committee Coming to Charleston Regarding Marcellus Shale Drilling | WDTV
by Nicole Porter
Marcellus Shale Drilling will be the topic of Senator Joe Manchin's first Congressional Field Hearing when he brings the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to Charleston next Monday. The committee will cover topics ranging from the economic benefits of drilling, to the safety and environmental concerns folks have when they hear about the topic. Manchin has hopes that this industry can be a game changer in the Mountain State. He invited the committee to "... talk about the … Continue Reading
November 08, 2011
Manchin: 'Insulted' at bonuses for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac | The Williamson Daily News
by Chad Abshire
Recently, nearly $13 million in bonus pay was approved for 10 executives at Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac, two mortgage lenders that received a government bailout of $141 billion in taxpayer dollars in 2008. This did not sit well with a group of 60 senators, including Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who have expressed outrage at the news. "Using taxpayer dollars to give out enormous bonuses at a troubled company just doesn't make any sense to me," Manchin said. "And I'm just as furious as the American … Continue Reading
October 31, 2011
Any jobs plan must address nation's critical needs | The Huntington Herald-Dispatch
by Editorial
The prospect of Congress and the White House coming to agreement on a jobs bill that includes spending on infrastructure improvements remains a long shot, but the idea is appealing to many Americans. In theory, such a plan would make sense- if a way is found to pay for it and if the bankrolled projects indeed aligned with the nation's critical needs. Not only should public work projects be as close to "shovel-ready" as possible to promote job growth and sustenance quickly, they should also … Continue Reading
October 28, 2011
Manchin: Shale can help state | The Dominion Post
by David Beard
"Do not miss this opportunity." That was Sen. Joe Manchin's message to legislators and state regulators Thursday night regarding the vast reserves of Marcellus shale natural gas lying within the state's borders. "Do not miss out on the potential that lies in the Marcellus, not only for energy - but also for job creation and economic development and the rebirth of a region," he said. Manchin, D-W.Va., delivered his message as part of his keynote address at WVU law school's Center for … Continue Reading
