Yesterday,
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. hosted a
conference call to discuss the Manchin-Collins bipartisan plan to reopen the
federal government and avoid a default.
Manchin
and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, are part of a group consisting of six
Republican and six Democratic senators attempting to avoid a budget default by
bringing the budget to a budget conference, which hasn't happened yet.
Manchin
said Democrats put together a budget that narrowly passed and the next step is
a budget conference.
Despite
differences in opinion that may arise, Manchin said he is confident the people
on both sides of the issue will get in a room together to discuss.
What
is important, he said, is that a meeting does occur and that both sides work
through their differences and focus on what can be agreed on, then reporting
back two weeks prior to default.
A
continuing resolution will likely extend until the first of the year, Manchin
said.
According
to Manchin, the Medical Device Tax would be delayed for two years, in order to
help transition into the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare.
Also
included is income verification, which basically prevents fraud, Manchin said.
While
Manchin sees movement in the right direction, he said a decision has to be
made.
"The
most important thing is funding the government and not defaulting," he
said.
Although Manchin said both sides are willing to work together and
understand each other, he also said it's not over yet
