WASHINGTON — As he begins his third week in Washington, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., addressed current issues facing the state, Senate and the nation, including the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts, unemployment benefits, energy, highways, and whether or not to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

As far as the extension of unemployment benefits and the Bush Tax Cuts, Manchin said no agreement has been reached in the Senate.

“Nothing is done,” Manchin said. “It would sunset as of Dec. 1 and tax rates would return on Jan. 1, 2011 to what they were in 2001. From what I have seen, that money would not go to debut reduction but to increase operating costs. There should be a bipartisan compromise, but it’ll take a lot of work to be done. There’s a lot that needs to be repaired.”

On Saturday, two closure votes came up before the Senate. Manchin indicated he voted against the closure of the Baucus amendment, which would provide tax credits for Americans earning up to $250,000, and voted for the closure of the Schumer amendment, which would provide tax credits for those making more than $1 million a year. Both amendments were closed, though Manchin said the Senate is still looking for a way to resolve the issues surrounding the Bush Tax Cuts.

“We are looking at prudent and responsible way to take care of it,” Manchin said. “This provision would protect 99 percent of West Virginias. We didn’t lose one job and not one business would be affected. Both failed as of Saturday.”

According to Manchin, the tax credit would be for married couples making $250,000 or less and single individuals making $200,000 or less, including provisions such as the child tax credit, marriage penalty relief, and earned income tax credit. Manchin voted down a proposal that would have extended tax cut benefits to those making more than $1 million yearly, since only 573 West Virginians filed under that category.

Manchin said not extending the tax cuts would do more to harm the current state of the economy.

“I want to make it clear, I do prefer extending the tax cuts, but based on temporary, fine guidelines of time,” he said. “We must be prudent to make adjustments as needed. There’s going to have to be compromise. We can’t jeopardize in this economy the credits given to Americans.”

With the current political climate, Manchin said the tax cuts will be most likely temporarily extended once the two parties can reach a compromise.

“It looks like to me that all tax cuts will be extended for a temporary amount of time, anywhere from one year to two years anywhere up to five years,” he said. “The next time we get to vote will be on legislation worked out between Democratic and Republican leadership, the president and the White House. If we don’t  hunker down and vote, every American will be affected. In this most difficult time, with unemployment at 10 percent, we cannot afford to not make these cuts.”

Unemployment was another important issue Manchin said the two parties had to come to an agreement on. He indicated training and education should be a big part of these benefits.

“We have 10,000 who will go off unemployment in West Virginia on Jan. 1,” he said. “I think we’re still on 8.6 unemployment rate in West Virginia, so we haven’t had relief. I would like to see if people are training and getting different skill sets. We have jobs that have left our area permanently, so are we paying for education and training so those people have skills to acquire jobs that are in our area.”

According to Manchin, bipartisanship within the Senate will only be possible when the two parties can put aside their differences and return to professionalism.

“The first problem is the rhetoric that goes on,” Manchin said. “We can’t call each other names  and then go to lunch together. We need to draw a line between professionalism and personal attacks. Last time I checked, we all have the same constituent base whether we’re Democrats or Republicans. We just have to find that commonality. We have to make those repairs and call a truce. We have to get our finances in order in this country. We’ve got to get our act together and we will. I think you’ll see more bipartisanship and more working together. I’m visiting with all sides on both sides of the aisle to let them know I’m here to make things work.”

Manchin also reaffirmed that the Cap and Trade Bill is dead.

“The first thing I did was meet with Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.,” Manchin said. “ I would like to make it clear there was no opposition to Harry Reid as majority leader. There was no opposition on either Democratic or Republican side. He reaffirmed to me there would be no Cap and Trade Bill and there would be no Cap and Trade Bill in this session. I can now spend more time with the EPA and spend more time with other states so we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Part of reducing dependence on foreign oil would be looking into American-made energy sources, such as coal, Manchin said.

“The only way to lower energy costs it go get the federal government off their backs,” Manchin said. “All they’re doing is raising the price of energy. Any fossil fuels, such as coal, will cost more because of federal regulations. It if it’s going to be bought in America, it should be made in American by Americans.”

Manchin said West Virginia, along with two other coal producing states, are moving forward with a lawsuit against the EPA, which Manchin thinks will change policy toward coal.

“We hope we are moving in that direction,” he said. “We have entered into a lawsuit along with Kentucky and Virginia against the EPA and I believe we will win that lawsuit. I believe that will change the whole dynamic. I don’t believe it is purview of this agency to go outside government legislation.”

He also stated the West Virginia Public Service Commission should do its best to limit rate increases on energy unless absolutely needed.

“Any requests for increases should be scrutinized to the Nth degree to make sure the aren’t asking for more than they need,” Manchin said.

After the announcement that Don Blankenship, chairman and CEO of Massey Energy, would be retiring, Manchin said his first concern was for West Virginia miners.

“My main concern is for our miners and their jobs,” Manchin said. “Massey employs a number of people in our state and I hope they can keep doing so for our miners. We have our political differences over the years. I wish him well as I wish every human being well when they move on with their lives.”

As he enters his third week of serving in the Senate, Manchin said there are a few issues he is working on. During his first weeks as senator, Manchin said he voted for the Food Safety Bill, which was passed.

“The whole thing in a nutshell is we have a lot of food imported into our country and that bill puts imported food on the same restrictions as domestically grown food,” Manchin said.

As far as a Federal Highway Bill, Manchin said the Senate is only looking for a resolution to keep highways up and running.

“We will pass an appropriations bill and do a continuing resolution just to keep things up and running,” he said.

Another issue in Washington recently is that of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Manchin said he is currently educating himself about the bill before making a decision on whether he would vote for or against repealing the bill. He said his two main concerns for the bill would be it’s cost and how it would affect clergy in the military.

“I’ve talked with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and front-line commanders, all of whom believe it will happen and that it will be moving forward,” Manchin said. “What I’ve heard, though, is they don’t feel it would be a good idea to push this through when we are in the midst of a conflict. I still haven’t made a decision because I’ve been listening and talking about it.”

Manchin said he is still adjusting to life in Washington.

“It took four hours for me to transition from governor to senator,” he said. “It’s a big change and it’s one we’re working on very hard.”

He said the life is fast-paced in Washington and that there are definite challenges he now faces as senator.

“It would be easy to be disconnected because of the pace I’m on now,” Manchin said. “I can see how people feel they don’t know what’s going on in Washington. There’s things coming at us I would have never anticipated. The challenges here in Washington are greater than I ever imagined.”

Manchin said he missed being in West Virginia, even with the large snow storms that have affected much of the state.

“It’s hard,” he said. “I’m missing the hills and my people. I’ll be getting back as often as I can.”

— Contact Kate Coil at

kcoil@bdtonline.com