In the News
Manchin Optimistic Debt Ceiling Deal Can Be Reached | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Jess Mancini
PARKERSBURG - Sen. Joe Manchin, optimistic a debt agreement can be reached before Tuesday, told reporters Friday he's deeply concerned the country's credit rating being downgraded will financially impact every West Virginian and American. "I know how hard it is to get a credit rating upgrade when you've been downgraded," the first-term West Virginia Democrat, a former governor, said. Congressmen are debating plans to reduce spending and raise the debt limit to avert a financial meltdown on … Continue Reading
July 29, 2011
Manchin says long-term debt solution needed | Charleston Gazette
by Paul J. Nyden
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Freshman West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said Friday he's optimistic that a compromise on raising the nation's debt ceiling can be reached by Tuesday's deadline but reiterated that he wants Congress to deal with the nation's long-term debt problems, rather than settle for "quick fixes." If Congress does not raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by Tuesday, fears are that the government could go into default on its debts. Manchin disagrees with the two legislative … Continue Reading
July 29, 2011
Manchin balks at Democrat, GOP debt ceiling plans | The Huntington Herald-Dispatch
by Larry Messina
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin said Friday that neither House Republicans nor Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a fellow Democrat, can count on his support for their dueling debt limit plans. Following up a Thursday floor speech on the topic, West Virginia's junior senator told in-state media that each measure offers only short-term approaches to long-range problems involving federal spending, budget deficits and tax policy. Manchin instead endorsed the sort of provisions … Continue Reading
July 28, 2011
Lone Dem Senator pledges to oppose both debt ceiling proposals | CNN
by Rebecca Stewart
Washington (CNN)-Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin vowed he would not vote for the Republican, plan to raise the nation's debt ceiling Thursday. But he won't vote for the Democratic-backed plan either. "Washington may be broken, but it will not break me," he said in a speech on the Senate floor. "And you should not let it break you, either," Manchin chided President Barack Obama. The first-term senator, who was voted into office during a special election after veteran West Virginia Sen. Robert … Continue Reading
July 27, 2011
Officials Reach Out to Local Small Business Owners | The Martinsburg Journal
by Matt Armstrong
SHEPHERDSTOWN - Local small business owners met with federal and state officials in Shepherdstown for advice about how to expand or get started Tuesday morning. John Shoraka, the Mid-Atlantic's regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, was the first speaker at the event. "The main objective today is to make sure small businesses in the community are aware of the services that we have available," said Shoraka, whose region includes West Virginia and several other … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011
Waste: Billions in Afghanistan | Charleston Gazette
by Editorial
A new inspector-general report says billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars cannot be traced in Afghanistan, and may wind up in the hands of fanatics killing American soldiers - or in foreign bank accounts of Afghan crooks. The audit says: "Because of the level of corruption in Afghanistan and the continuing insurgency, the U.S. government's lack of visibility over its funds is a significant concern. Reports of as much as $10 million a day in cash leaving Kabul International Airport have added to … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011
Resources key for West Virginia’s small businesses | Times West Virginian
by Jessisa Borders
FAIRMONT - To start, grow and succeed, a small business needs to begin with the right resources. On Monday morning, the Office of Sen. Joe Manchin teamed up with the U.S. Small Business Administration to offer a free business outreach meeting, called "Building Your Business, Building Our Future," at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center in Fairmont's I-79 Technology Park. The workshop focused on giving West Virginians the resources to get their small business off the ground or to build … Continue Reading
July 24, 2011
Manchin: We face 'difficult decisions' | Times West Virginian
by J. Miles Layton
FAIRMONT - The clock is ticking as President Barack Obama and congressional leaders wrangle out a deal to avert a threatened government debt default. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., urged a common-sense approach to solving the nation's debt debacle Friday during a speech on the Senate floor. He said this is not a political problem, but an American problem. "I rise today to speak about one of my gravest concerns, which is our nation's fiscal future," he said. "All of us - Democrats and … Continue Reading
July 23, 2011
Locals praise Sens. Manchin, Rockefeller | The Elkins Inter-Mountain
by Staff Writers
The Corridor H Authority, a West Virginia agency that has passionately and repeatedly touted the virtues of Corridor H to anyone who would listen, praised U.S. Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, both D-W.Va., and Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, for introducing a bill that would allow existing funds to complete the Mountain State's portion of the highway. Seventy-five percent of Corridor H, a highway that eventually will link I-79 at Weston with I-81 near Front Royal, Virginia, will be … Continue Reading
July 19, 2011
Manchin, others want improvements at Defense Dept. dependents schools | Charleston Gazette
by Paul J. Nyden
CHARLESTON, W.Va.-- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and 11 other U.S. senators sent a letter to new Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on Tuesday, asking that improvements be made at deteriorating schools that teach 86,000 children at military facilities in the United States and around the world. The Center for Public Integrity recently completed a report assessing infrastructure and building conditions in 189 schools in the United States, Europe and the Pacific region. The report found 80 percent … Continue Reading
July 09, 2011
Sen. Manchin visits Shepherdstown officials | The Martinsburg Journal
by Tricia Fulks
SHEPHERDSTOWN - U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III visited Jefferson County on Friday to get "the pulse of the people" as debt talks continue in Washington, D.C. After making stops in Charles Town and Ranson, Manchin and his staff met with Shepherd University and Contemporary American Theater Festival officials on campus before walking downtown Shepherdstown in the rain to meet with business owners and local residents. Manchin said with critical votes looming ahead in Congress, he finds that West … Continue Reading
July 02, 2011
Manchin: Quit Afghans, Fix problems here at home | Charleston Gazette
by Paul J. Nyden
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he is increasingly concerned about spending billions of dollars in Afghanistan while problems here at home, such as a decaying infrastructure, continue to grow. Manchin said he has learned about Afghanistan "after going over there twice, as a governor and as a senator; speaking to people in different branches of government. "I have visited Kandahar and Helmand -- on the front line. I have been to Kabul. I have spoken to Karl Eikenberry, … Continue Reading
June 28, 2011
How long should U.S. troops be overseas? | Times West Virginian
by J. Miles Layton
FAIRMONT - U.S. armed forces have been in Afghanistan for nearly 10 years, sparking some to question the wisdom of staying. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., sparred with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on the Senate floor last week about the issue. Manchin has visited the region both as governor and, more recently, as a member of the Senate. "I believe it is time for President (Barack)?Obama to begin a substantial and responsible reduction in our military presence in Afghanistan," Manchin said in a … Continue Reading
June 28, 2011
Manchin files bill to locate missing seniors | Williamson Daily News
by Terry L. May
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Joe Manchin has introduced a new national initiative to assist in locating missing adults and senior citizens who have gone missing. The bill was modeled after the Silver Alert currently in place in West Virginia. "The Silver Alert is something we did - and did well - in West Virginia," Senator Manchin said. "This system works. In West Virginia, we've been lucky enough to only have activated the system about a half dozen times, and we have been very successful in … Continue Reading
June 27, 2011
Manchin opposes Chinese profiting | Charleston Daily Mail
by Ry Rivard
CHARLESTON, W.Va.--Sen. Joe Manchin's call for a more accelerated exit of American troops from Afghanistan followed a trip to the country, informal polls of roomfuls of West Virginians and months of thought. But the fact that Chinese mining interests are profiting because of American war spending and sacrifice was "the straw that broke the camel's back," the freshman senator said in a telephone interview late last week. Manchin said he'd been hearing complaints from American companies about … Continue Reading
June 27, 2011
Manchin still pushing for fast withdrawal | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Jess Mancini
PARKERSBURG - Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said he was disappointed the president didn't change the country's mission in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama Wednesday announced to the nation that 33,000 soldiers will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by next summer, 10,000 by the end of this summer. About 70,000 will remain in Afghanistan and the combat mission won't end until December 2014. Manchin said he was disappointed. Reiterating financial constraints, a stagnant economy "and a death … Continue Reading
June 25, 2011
Joe Manchin: Rebuild America, Not Afghanistan | Charleston Daily Mail
by Op-Ed
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the past 10 years, our nation has spent nearly $443 billion and lost more than 1,500 brave men and women in Afghanistan. Over the next decade, we're projected to spend nearly $500 billion more, all as we borrow historic amounts from China and ask Americans to face higher taxes or cuts to critical programs I believe in, such as Head Start, Social Security and Medicare. At the same time, we have now hit our debt ceiling of $14.3 trillion, and the president is asking … Continue Reading
June 25, 2011
Ending the War in Afghanistan | The Wheeling Intelligencer
by Mike Myer
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has managed to rub a lot of people - both Republicans and his fellow Democrats - the wrong way during his few months in Washington. Good. Manchin pledged to represent the people of West Virginia, not political party leaders or bureaucrats. Last week the senator aroused the wrath of none other than Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was his party's nominee for president in 2008. McCain differed with Manchin on the issue of how quickly U.S. troops and financial assistance … Continue Reading
June 24, 2011
Silver Alert could go nationwide | The Dominion Post
by Evelyn Ryan
The Silver Alert system may soon be a national program, if U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has his way. While governor, Manchin was able to get legislation passed that set up a Silver Alert system in the Mountain State for when cognitively impaired individuals of any age are reported missing. Morgantown area residents learned about the program this past Saturday, when William Lester Campbell, 79, failed to return home after going to get gas for his car. He was found Sunday in Oakland, Md. … Continue Reading
June 21, 2011
Cost of Wars a Rising Issue as Obama Weighs Troop Levels | The New York Times
by Helene Cooper
WASHINGTON - President Obama will talk about troop numbers in Afghanistan when he makes a prime-time speech from the White House on Wednesday night. But behind his words will be an acute awareness of what $1.3 trillion in spending on two wars in the past decade has meant at home: a ballooning budget deficit and a soaring national debt at a time when the economy is still struggling to get back on its feet. As Mr. Obama begins trying to untangle the country from its military and civilian … Continue Reading
