Because of the health crisis we have faced, bars and restaurants had to close, many permanently. “But we see things coming back to life,” Sen. Joe Manchin, (D-W.Va.), told the National Beer Wholesalers Association‘s Legislative Conference. “We don’t think the new normal will be like the old normal, he added, noting the SBA said it will begin accepting applications for the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fill Friday (4/30). As restaurants, etc., recover you will see all the businesses increase sales,” Manchin said.
“We’re in challenging times,” he added. “I never thought I would see anything like Jan. 6, with our government attacked by Americans. We have to rebuild trust and commitment in our government.”
Asked about a move by House Democrats to abolish the filibuster, Manchine recalled the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who served in the Senate for more than 51 years, until his death in 2010, who explained the reason the filibuster is needed. The Senate is a deliberative body, unlike the House. The founders “never expected the House to pass anything on a bipartisan basis,” he said. The purpose for the Senate to work through everything on a bipartisan basis. The reason they made sure that each state would have two senators, regardless of how big a state is whether in population or footprint, is the Founding Fathers didn’t want the big guys beating up on the little guy.
“If we don’t fight to restore decency and civility in the Senate, we’ll be no better than a third-world nation,” he added.
Manchin was asked about some current legislative topics. On infrastructure he said, “We know there’s a tremendous amount of deferred maintenance on traditional infrastructure. We have put about $6 trillion, mostly bipartisan except for the last bill. I believe the current bill should be broken up to insure that what can get passed, gets passed. Manchin noted that lumber prices, houses and real estate markets are selling beyond the asking price and said he is worried about runaway spending train leading to inflation.”
Senators have to respect their colleagues, he said, noting the Senate last week passed a hate crimes bill, 94-1. “No one should ever be subject to hate,” he observed. Republicans offered three amendments on the floor, none of which were accepted, “and we still passed it. We didn’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good.”
On statehood for the District of Columbia, Manchin said “it was never intended for any state to oversee the federal government.” If the current constitutional provision that makes Washington, D.C., a federal district and not part of any state is to be changed, Manchin said, it should be done as a Constitutional Amendment and voted on by the American people.
Turning to taxes, Manchin said he supports raising the corporate income tax rate to 25% from 21%. That’s still down significantly from the 35% rate of just a few years. But, he added, some $400 billion to $1 trillion of taxes owed isn’t collected every year. “If you can’t collect what you’re owed, you have no business raising taxes,” he said, adding he supports increased funding for the Internal Revenue Service.
On electric vehicles, Manchin said the U.S. doesn’t mine the critical minerals needed to build the batteries. “We have to be sure we can sustain ourselves,” he said, adding, “We’re energy independent today, we should remain independent.”