Dems support an extension of healthcare benefits for coal mi
Dec 9, 2016 15:46:19 GMT -4
Souriquois likes this
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2016 15:46:19 GMT -4
This is an irony! These people voted for Trump!
Manchin urging colleagues to block funding bill as shutdown looms 3 / 25
The Hill The Hill
Jordain Carney
33 mins ago
Senate Democrats dig in as shutdown approachesĀ© Provided by The Hill Senate Democrats dig in as shutdown approaches
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is urging his colleagues to block a short-term government spending bill with hours left before the government shuts down.
Spokesman Jonathon Kott on Friday confirmed that Manchin is calling his colleagues and asking them to oppose the continuing resolution (CR) over an entrenched fight on miners healthcare.
The CR includes a four-month extension of health benefits for thousands of miners and their families, but Manchin and other Democrats want that extended to a year.
Unless Manchin backs down, the Senate won't be able to take a vote until Saturday morning, blowing the Friday night deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
Democrats have stopped short of saying they will ultimately block the CR while stressing they are sympathetic to the miners and their families.
Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat in the next Congress, downplayed the chances of a shutdown, telling reporters that he didn't believe there was an "appetite" for closing the government.
"What we're trying to do is to make it clear that we think it should be more than several months," he said. "I don't believe that there's an appetite for shutting down the government."
It's unclear whether Manchin has the 41 votes needed to ultimately block the CR.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pressed Democrats to drop their opposition the CR on Friday morning, pledging to work with them next year to extend retired miners' health benefits past April.
"Would I have preferred that [the continuing resolution] provision to be more generous? Of course I would have," he said. "My request to the House was to fund it for a full year, but we'll be back at it in April and I think it's highly unlikely it will be taken away."
Asked whether McConnell's pledge was enough for Democrats to let the CR move forward, Durbin directed questions to Manchin and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
CNN first reported Manchin's efforts.
Manchin urging colleagues to block funding bill as shutdown looms 3 / 25
The Hill The Hill
Jordain Carney
33 mins ago
Senate Democrats dig in as shutdown approachesĀ© Provided by The Hill Senate Democrats dig in as shutdown approaches
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is urging his colleagues to block a short-term government spending bill with hours left before the government shuts down.
Spokesman Jonathon Kott on Friday confirmed that Manchin is calling his colleagues and asking them to oppose the continuing resolution (CR) over an entrenched fight on miners healthcare.
The CR includes a four-month extension of health benefits for thousands of miners and their families, but Manchin and other Democrats want that extended to a year.
Unless Manchin backs down, the Senate won't be able to take a vote until Saturday morning, blowing the Friday night deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
Democrats have stopped short of saying they will ultimately block the CR while stressing they are sympathetic to the miners and their families.
Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat in the next Congress, downplayed the chances of a shutdown, telling reporters that he didn't believe there was an "appetite" for closing the government.
"What we're trying to do is to make it clear that we think it should be more than several months," he said. "I don't believe that there's an appetite for shutting down the government."
It's unclear whether Manchin has the 41 votes needed to ultimately block the CR.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pressed Democrats to drop their opposition the CR on Friday morning, pledging to work with them next year to extend retired miners' health benefits past April.
"Would I have preferred that [the continuing resolution] provision to be more generous? Of course I would have," he said. "My request to the House was to fund it for a full year, but we'll be back at it in April and I think it's highly unlikely it will be taken away."
Asked whether McConnell's pledge was enough for Democrats to let the CR move forward, Durbin directed questions to Manchin and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
CNN first reported Manchin's efforts.