Texas Sen. John Cornyn said West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin’s threat to shut down the government over coal miners’ benefits is unjustified given that Republicans have vowed to work with him on the issue.
Manchin said he plans to try to block the House-passed continuing resolution — which would provide an additional four months of benefits for miners, who are slated to lose coverage Dec. 31 if a bill is not passed — until Republicans agree to renegotiate the legislation to provide a longer-term solution.
Cornyn, the second-most powerful Republican in the upper chamber, said by failing to accept their offer, Manchin has put himself in a less-than-optimal situation.
“I already told Sen. Manchin we’d work with him, rather than say, ‘well I’m glad I got this’ and accept my and others offer to work with him on a longer period of health benefits for miners, considering McConnell, I think, on the floor this morning said he’d make the same offer,” he told reporters Friday. “He’s decided to say, well I won’t take half a loaf I want a whole loaf and then he put himself in an uncomfortable position where he really can’t win.”
McConnell said Republicans have no plans to let the miners go without benefits, calling on Manchin to accept the GOP’s commitment to address the problem in coming months.
“Most of the Senate Democrats support the war on coal. It’s been my intention that the miner benefits not expire at the end of April next year,” he said on the Senate floor Friday morning. “As I just said, I’m going to work with my colleagues to prevent that. But this is a good time to take yes for an answer. We should pass the CR without delay. Because if we don’t pass the CR, the health benefits will go away at the end of this month.”
Cornyn said he’s hopeful the Senate will be able to complete it’s work by late-Friday evening, adding while he hasn’t talked to Manchin directly, there are conversations taking place between leadership and Democratic members.
“My hope is there’s basically, noncontroversial items that have support unanimous consent that Sen. Manchin has blocked, that those will be included in the wrap up,” he said.
Government funding is set to expire at midnight.
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