Manchin s comments, made during a radio interview with West Virginia MetroNews s Hoppy Kercheval, underscore how some of Democrats biggest priorities face headaches even if they got rid of the 60-vote legislative filibuster something they don t currently have the support to do.
Manchin, asked about a bill to grant D.C. statehood, said the idea had been studied by previous Justice Departments.
ADVERTISEMENT They all came to the same conclusion: If Congress wants to make D.C. a state, it should propose a constitutional amendment . and let the people of America vote, Manchin said.
Pressed if he would oppose a stand-alone bill, Manchin added Yes, I would.
The comments from Schumer give important backing to a push from progressives, who have been calling for a range of major health care reforms from President Biden
Schumer specifically pointed to conversations he has had with Sen. Bernie Sanders
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“Bernie Sanders and I agree on this,” Schumer told The.Ink. “I believe we should be negotiating we just talked about this at some length; he and I must talk almost every single day Medicare negotiating with the drug companies and using that money to expand Medicare.”
Asked about reducing the Medicare eligibility age or a public option to compete alongside private health insurers for people of all ages, Schumer replied, “Yeah, I d be for either of those, both of those.”
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