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.
Collins said she decided to vote to confirm Becerra after several conversations with him on a range of issues, including lowering prescription drug costs and expanding health care access to rural areas across the country. She is the first Republican to come out in support of his confirmation.
“During our one-on-one meeting, and in three subsequent conversations, Mr. Becerra and I discussed several shared goals that I hope we can accomplish in the Biden Administration. They include lowering the price of prescription drugs for patients and reducing our dependence on foreign countries for drug manufacturing, she said in a statement. I also urged Mr. Becerra to support additional funding for health care providers during the pandemic, particularly in rural areas.