U.S. Senate Story Archives - Page 3 of 11 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Capito Goes On The Record To Pay Tribute To A Departing Colleague

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito delivered a speech Tuesday morning on the floor of the U.S. Senate honoring Rep. David McKinley and his service to West Virginia.

McKinkley lost a Republican primary to Rep. Alex Mooney in May after the 2020 Census reduced the state’s House seats from three to two.

Capito praised McKinley for his love for West Virginia, dedication to his constituents and pragmatism.

“His unique and thoughtful analysis of challenges has helped his constituents immensely, and it certainly made West Virginia a better place,” she said. “In fact, I don’t think there are many members of Congress who have held town hall meetings on the Megabus to D.C. as David has to meet with our constituents.”

A native of Wheeling, McKinley has served West Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2011.

He also served in the West Virginia House of Delegates for 14 years, from 1980 to 1994, during which time he also served as chair of the West Virginia Republican party from 1990 to 1994.

Capito also highlighted McKinley’s unique status as the only licensed engineer in the House of Representatives, which she attributed for his excellent analytical skills and legislative focuses.

“David’s played an essential role in advancing legislation critical to infrastructure, life altering hearing aid devices, and securing the pensions and retirement benefits that our West Virginia coal miners rely on,” she said. “David is, and always will be, a problem solver. And he brought thoughtful solutions to the needs of our fellow West Virginians every single day with unrelenting passion.”

Capito ended her six minute speech by expressing her, and West Virginia’s, gratitude for his service and leadership.

“The difference that you have made in our state that we both love, and the friendship and counsel that you have provided me over the years is much appreciated,” she said. “So when I see David, and we have a conversation, and he sends me on my way, he has a trademark saying that he always says to me, so I’m going to say it back to him today. David, I will say this to you, ‘Go get them, kid.’”

Justice 'Seriously Considering' 2024 U.S. Senate Run

During his Tuesday coronavirus briefing, Gov. Jim Justice said he will soon make an announcement regarding a possible run for the U.S Senate seat open in 2024.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Updated 1:41 p.m., Nov. 22, 2022

During his Tuesday coronavirus briefing, Gov. Jim Justice said he will soon make an announcement regarding a possible run for the U.S Senate seat open in 2024.

“I’m really thinking really hard about it,” Justice said. “I’m very seriously considering running for Senate.”

Last week, another Republican, Rep. Alex Mooney, announced his intention to run for the seat currently held by Democrat Joe Manchin.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has also suggested he may run for a federal office in 2024. Manchin hasn’t said if he’ll run again.

Justice said others declaring their candidacy has nothing to do with his political decisions. He said he has been seriously considering a senate run for a while and is consulting with his family.

“I’m doing a lot of thinking and planning and everything,” Justice said. “Discussions are ongoing with my family and lots of folks but serious, serious consideration.”

Justice said regardless of his decision, he will be an active governor the next two years. He said he’s “not going to sit around and just hang out.”

Capito Votes To Advance Federal Marriage Equality Bill In Senate

The Wednesday Senate vote of 62-37 means the Respect For Marriage Act is likely to see final passage.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito was one of 12 Republicans to vote to advance a federal law protecting same-sex and interracial marriages.

The Wednesday Senate vote of 62-37 means the Respect For Marriage Act is likely to see final passage.

The legislation codifies the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in recent years protecting the marriage rights of same-sex couples. It also protects the 1967 decision that struck down state laws banning interracial marriage.

The bill repeals the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman for federal purposes.

Democrat Joe Manchin also voted to advance the bill.

Also Wednesday, Capito was elected by her Senate Republican colleagues to a leadership position. She is now vice-chair of the Senate Republican conference, the No. 4 post.

She is the first West Virginian to serve in Senate leadership since Robert Byrd in the 1980s.

Manchin Is Us & Them

For decades, Joe Manchin has defined and redefined politics in West Virginia. For this episode, Us & Them host Trey Kay asks West Virginia progressives: How is Joe Manchin’s reputation shaping his future and the country’s?

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin may be redefining the nation’s political landscape by reconfiguring the middle.

While some say he’s tough to predict, others insist Manchin’s consistency has come to serve as an important political reference point. As the spotlight shines on the toxic battle between left and right, a man with decades in public office recently helped deliver a rare compromise bill through Congress.

For the past two years, Joe Manchin has seemed to be at the center of the political debate between us and them. This episode offers perspective and analysis on Manchin’s political legacy and the future as we weigh consequences of the midterm elections and how they may play out on Manchin’s next campaign.

This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, the CRC Foundation and the Daywood Foundation.

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

Joe Manchin is one of the most polarizing figures in current American politics. He embodies the great national divide between ‘us and them.’ And yet, Manchin has never been the focus of our Us & Them show…until now.

David Fryson is pastor of the New First Baptist Church of Kanawha City and is also a Charleston attorney, a diversity professional and frequent contributor to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. As Fryson points out, the African American vote had a lot to do with Manchin’s victory in 2018.

Joe Manchin’s electoral record in West Virginia has been remarkable. Through his long career in politics, he has only lost once, in a 1996 gubernatorial primary. The person he lost to was Charlotte Pritt. Although she’s no longer on the front lines, Pritt has maintained her connections and follows politics closely. She has some provocative opinions about how Manchin fits into the national political landscape.

Denise Giardina is a West Virginian through and through. Born in coal country, raised in a coal family, her entire life is rooted in West Virginia. She is also a committed environmentalist. Her unsuccessful run for governor in 2000 was focused on one thing. To raise public awareness of the dangers of mountaintop removal by the coal companies. After the campaign, her continued activism brought her in contact with then Gov. Joe Manchin. She spoke with him during an event at her church.

Us & Them listeners may recognize Mayor Anne Cavalier. She’s someone we check in with from time to time. Like many West Virginia towns, her town of Smithers is transitioning away from a coal based economy and building toward a tourism-based infrastructure. To assist this transition, Sen. Manchin secured federal funds for the Smithers Integrated Trail system.

Manchin, Capito Want Permitting Reforms, But How Will It Happen?

The problem is the evenly split nature of the Senate, with 50 votes on both sides of the chamber.

U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito both want changes to expedite permitting of energy projects. But the two West Virginians find themselves in opposite corners on how to get it done.

In negotiating what became the Inflation Reduction Act, Manchin got the support of leading Democrats in Congress and President Joe Biden for permitting reforms.

They promised Manchin the measures would be attached to a spending bill lawmakers must pass to keep the government open after Sept. 30. Manchin said that’s the only shot lawmakers have to get the reforms in place.

“If we don’t do it now, within the next two weeks, it will not be done,” he told reporters in a conference call Thursday.

The problem is the evenly split nature of the Senate, with 50 votes on both sides of the chamber. Even when Democrats are unanimous, they need at least 10 Republicans to pass anything under conventional Senate rules.

Manchin said he’s counting on Capito to corral a sufficient number of Republican votes for what’s called the continuing resolution, or CR.

“I think she has the clout and the respect in the Republican caucus to hopefully bring 15 to 20 Republicans with her,” Manchin said. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Not so fast, Capito said. Capito introduced her own bill with very similar permitting measures. It has 45 Republican co-sponsors. Under the same Senate rules, she’d need Democrats to get it passed.

Even though both senators want the same thing, Capito said she needs to see Manchin’s version before she commits to support it. She also says there may be another opportunity if this one falls through.

“I think if it doesn’t make it on the CR like he says, I wouldn’t throw the towel in,” Capito told reporters in a separate conference call Thursday. “I understand why he’s saying that, because it puts more force into being able to garner the votes to get that done.”

Another thing both senators want: The Mountain Valley Pipeline, which has encountered delays in permitting and is currently tied up in court.

“I want the Mountain Valley Pipeline,” Capito said. “There’s no question about that.”

Capito says lawmakers will be talking through the weekend to see if they can reach a deal.

Sen. Manchin Isolating After Positive COVID-19 Test

Sen. Joe Manchin has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms, the West Virginia lawmaker tweeted Monday.

The 74-year-old Democrat said he’s fully vaccinated and boosted.

“I will isolate and follow CDC guidelines as I continue to work remotely to serve West Virginians,” he said.

This is the second West Virginian member of Congress to test positive for COVID-19 in recent days. Rep. Carol Miller, who represents the state’s 3rd congressional district, announced she had contracted the virus last week.

Manchin’s absence could impact voting in the Senate later this week. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are able to vote remotely by proxy, but members of the U.S. Senate are not.

Lawmakers are expected to take a final vote on a bill to boost semiconductor production in the United States this week. The bill making its way through the Senate is a top priority of the Biden administration.

The legislation would add about $79 billion to the deficit over 10 years, mostly as a result of new grants and tax breaks that would subsidize the cost that computer chip manufacturers incur when building or expanding chip plants in the United States.