In the News
EPA must consider balance | Times West Virginian
by J. Miles Layton
FAIRMONT - With the ink drying on the budget deal, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., stopped in town Thursday to speak at Michael Aloi's swearing-in ceremony as Marion County Circuit Court judge. Long before the speeches were made, Manchin congratulated Aloi in his new office next to the courtroom where he will be presiding. Afterward, Manchin came into the hallway where he was stopped for a few minutes by the Times West Virginian. The senator spoke about policy matters, the tea party and … Continue Reading
August 06, 2011
Manchin: End Aid to China | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Editorial
PARKERSBURG - A West Virginia senator is supporting the elimination of U.S. aid to China. In this time of budget constraints, U.S. tax dollars shouldn't be going to China, the world's second-largest economy, Sen. Joe Manchin said. The United States has spent more than $275 million since 2001 in China to expand internet access and improving public transportation, he said. China also receives billions from multilateral institutions like the United Nations, to which the United States is among … Continue Reading
August 02, 2011
State Lawmakers Back Compromise | Parkersburg News and Sentinel
by Jess Mancini
PARKERSBURG - West Virginia's congressional delegation supports the last-minute compromise to raise the debt limit and cut spending. "This never should have dragged on to the 11th hour, and I am disappointed that so many in Congress used this debate for political purposes," Sen. Jay Rockefeller said. The compromise raises the debt limit by $2.4 trillion in two parts and calls for $917 billion in spending reductions over 10 years. A committee of 12 named by the House and Senate leaders must … Continue Reading
July 30, 2011
Manchin Trying to Hold Out For a Long-term Debt Fix | The Beckley Register-Herald
by Mannix Porterfield
America isn't necessarily headed into the toilet if the debt ceiling "debacle" isn't resolved by Tuesday's deadline, but Sen. Joe Manchin is worried that the nation's credit rating could be in for a severe beating that could take a long time to repair. Manchin made those points clear Friday in a telephone conference call with West Virginia reporters, as Congress sought to escape gridlock and the nation's nerves grew more frayed. Hours before he fielded questions, Manchin rose on the Senate … Continue Reading
July 30, 2011
Manchin: Credit Downgrade Would Be Terrible | Times West Virginian
by J. Miles Layton
FAIRMONT - Tuesday is the big day for which the default deadline bell tolls. Though Congress is closer to a deal, there is no agreement that crosses the divide between Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., held a press conference Friday to apologize for Washington politics and to share his optimism that there will be a deal cut by the Aug. 2 deadline. He supports a reasonable balanced budget amendment, but not as a condition for a debt deal. The Senator wants … Continue Reading
July 30, 2011
Manchin Hopes Legislators Find the Middle Ground in Debate | Bluefield Daily Telegraph
by Kate Coil
WASHINGTON - With three days left before the nation's economy goes into default, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Friday he is still optimistic a bipartisan agreement can be reached. Despite the heated debate in Washington, Manchin said in a conference call Friday he believes a debt ceiling solution will be reached before the Aug. 2 deadline. "We'll do whatever it takes," Manchin said. "We're right into this thing and we're going to get this done. I'm still an optimist. We're all in this and … Continue Reading
July 30, 2011
Manchin Optimistic About Debt Resolution | The Elkins Inter-Mountain
by Carra Higgins
As an "optimist", U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he thinks members of Congress will "rally for the sake of America" and compromise regarding the debt ceiling by its looming Tuesday deadline. Following his Thursday address to the U.S. Senate, Manchin spoke to West Virginia media Friday and explained he has concerns about the two separate proposals - one by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the other by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, - to increase the debt ceiling … Continue Reading
July 30, 2011
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
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
