senator manchin who often recites the history of this proud industry. but that industry has gone through dramatic changes. some of those changes due to activities and certain companies that may or may not have been responsible. some of those -- some of the changes in this agency because of a desire of many of us, frankly on this side of the aisle, to make sure that we can find cleaner ways to use energy. in a way, that's good, but that's meant that many of these coal companies and many of these operators who continue to mine what powered america are under enormous fiscal stress. and the result being not enough miners, coal companies that went bankrupt, and unfortunately the pension funds that would protect these miners now in jeopardy. so now through no fault of their own, these workers who have sacrificed their bodies, their health, their livelihood now when it comes to the united states government basically upholding our end of the deal to make sure that these workers and more specifically as my colleagues have pointed out more often their wide owes,

but does joe manchin have a point that this could hurt the democratic party?> well, i think what this underscores, brianna, is the fact that the goodwill that a lot of democrats have had for bernie sanders throughout the last couple of months, that that is starting to wear thin. i think for the duration of the democratic primary, a lot of democrats recognize including party leaders and rank and file members, they recognize the value of sanders challenging clinton and the value of him being a part of the conversation. obviously, he has shown he has a massive following and talking about ishlss that are important to progressives, whether it's wall street reform or student loans or campaign finance reform, many people in the party believe that he was sort of turning the conversation in a good direction and in turn bringing clinton a little more to the left and to acknowledge more progressive position. but now that we are in the month of may, in fact, about to head into the month of june, and donald trump has really nailed down his nomination on the republican side

what do you say to joe manchin? >> well, i think joe manchin is absolutely wrong., this process is moving along. there have been some communication between the campaigns, a number of networks have put forward proposals including some that would put seven-figure amounts into charity. you know this, seems to meet the parameters of what donald trump suggested he'd be willing to do. there's a little bit of foot dragging now it seems on their side. it may be that, you know, there may be some chickening out or, you know, an unwillingness to stand on stage and really debate with bernie sanders because they know bernie sanders is going to do quite well in that debate, frankly. >> what do you mean by foot-dragging, jeff? >> well, you know, i think there was some initial conversations, and i think, you know, those have sort of slowed down a little bit. i think as we all know there's a little bit, and you have reported it, there's a little bit of disarray in their campaign and there may be different views in their campaign about whether this should go forward or not but we wo

3969, senator boxer's amendment as modified numbered 3935, senator flake's amendment 4038, senator manchin's amendment 4043, senator flake's amendment 3980, senator feinstein's amendment 3944 senator johnson's amendment 3993, senator klobuchar's amendment 3910, senator heller's amendment 4005, senator durbin's amendment 4029, senator sasse's amendment 4023. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the clerk will report by number. the clerk: the senator from maine, ms. collins proposes en bloc amendments numbered 3997, 3998 3933, 4030, 4008, 3920, 3969 3935 as modified 4038, 4043 3980, 3944, 3993, 3910, 4005 4029 and 4023. ms. collins: mr. president i ask unanimous consent that the senate now vote on these amendments en bloc. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. ms. collins: i know of no further debate on these amendments. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not all in favor say aye. those opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the amendments are agreed to en bloc. ms. collins: mr. president i ask unanimous

kennedy: joe manchin says bernie's not a democrat.is greatest appeals to his independent voters. they love that he's not beholden to the party like the establishment candidate that he's running against. julie: well, that's great, but they've been registered as democrats if they want to vote in a democratic primary. kennedy: i think that's why they're pushing for more open primaries. >> at what point does bernie bail? does he take it to the convention each though he's mathematically eliminated? is it the minute -- kennedy: he's got no reason to bail. >> because he has nothing else to do in life? why? what's his point? dagen: now that larry david isn't on there on saturday night, he's liable to step aside -- sandra: you guys. kennedy: so much more to discuss. this couch is heating up like an omelet pan. [laughter] all right. donald trump lashing back at president obama for saying foreign leaders are, quote, rattled by a possible trump presidency. the presumptive gop nominee now saying that could actually be a good thing. >>> plus, campa

. >> well, we've seen that especially with notijoe manchin >> it's been very difficult for manchin becausemoderate democrat and he wants to work with both sides. it's a challenge for him to try to find that sweet spot. he doubled down last week. he took a political risk. he doubled down. he's all in with the clintons. that could be a problem for him if he runs for -- runs for re-election in 2018. >> you can just imagine those video clips coming back possibly to haunt him, es spely in an off-cycle with hillary clinton as well. appreciate your insights and we'll be back for more thoughts from west virginia. appreciate it, sir. >> my pleasure. >> all the best. >>> an update on a story we're following. the federal police officer of a shooting will face a judge for the first time tomorrow. the initial court appearance is scheduled for monday. police say so far there has been no sign of remorse from him. the charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. >>> mississippi state university is now mourning the loss of one of its own after a student fell from the top of the jumbotron in the scho

manchin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. manchin: mr. president, i rise today, as i have for the past few weeks, to bring stories of the opiate crisis we have throughout my state and all over your state of north carolina and all over this country. this epidemic is something we have to face because it affects every person in america right now. therthere's not a person i knowf and not anybody i believe in america who doesn't know somebody in their immediate family, extended family or close friend that hasn't been affected by prescription drug abuse or illicit drug abuse. i've been dealing with this since my days as governor of the great state of west virginia. and, as you know, it's ravaged my state. we've hit harder than any other state in the country. drug overdoses have soared by over 700%. just last year we lost over 600 west virginians. these are legal prescription drugs made legally in the country by a legal company, approved by the food and drug administration, a federal agency supposed to be looking out for our well-being. being pr

but i also want to ask because when you have members of your own party, senator joe manchin who had choiceords for it, and then dianne feinstein also calling it publicity ploy, what's your take on that members of your own party? >> well, i actually think that it's outing donald trump as the blow hard fake wimp that he actually is. because here's a guy who said he'd challenge bernie sanders to a debate. bernie calls him on it and trump backs away coming up with a lame excuse. so i like the fact donald trump is being outed for the fake that he is. that having been said, i don't think we're going to see much of a change in the dynamic within our democratic party until we get to the convention. and by the way, i don't necessarily think it's a bad thing. let me say why quickly. bernie sanders is bringing new people sfwointo the political process that otherwise would not have been there before. and everybody's polling shows they're far more likely, the vast majority far more likely to support the eventual democratic nominee than donald trump. that's a good thing for the party, good thing for my

senator joe manchin told politico it's b.s., though he used the actual word and he questioned why anyone would expect sanders to unite the party, saying he's quote not a democrat. and sanders responded to clinton's claim that she will be the party's nominee. >> that is already done in effect. there is no way that i won't be. >> does that make you mad seeing that? >> just a tinge of arrogance there i think. >>> so let's talk about one other front in the presidential race that's increasingly a place of heavy fire. yesterday, at donald trump's press conference we had a native american woman and freelance writer attending the event calling trump out for the way he has taunted senator elizabeth warren. >> warren, she seems -- >> who pocahontas? >> is that offensive? >> look, she is -- >> very offensive! >> oh, oh, i'm sorry about that. pocahontas, is that what you said? >> it's absolutely ludicrous in this day and age we're recognizing why cheek bones, the stereotypes. pocahontas, it's so overdone. like come on. i believe that mr. trump and his tone was offensive today. if there was other you

municipal hospital to be an aristocratic barter in the apartment house to those most of those great and manchin and it is of the way to go to the amount but this is much more alacrity eastern road detail and in 1922 with no reared copper roof for the first jewish judge you came to town in the late ottoman period so it is often called eclectic some people call that inconsistent to say that doesn't capture a leading or border crossing historically what has the best about jerusalem. i did it now with the board increase over the arab for the ottoman? local or foreign was he all of these? and it seems it may well have been composed of the shifting attendees and then finishing with of the eclectic principal was the expression of the on dynamics it is seems harder and harder to squint. i am happy to answer questions. [applause] [inaudible] if. >> did have to be a detective did not find as much as i want so i take that into the archives but the fact he was working for private clients meant there is less of a record then there would have spent even when mendelssohn worked with the private client with a

gun-control issue, where he showed bipartisan nature working with the senator from west virginia, manchinhe's got to. >> is that a big enough issue? >> i wouldn't do that again. >> but dom's gonna say he's gonna lose his base. it's a seesaw. >> right. but, no, he's doing exactly the right thing, i think, at this point. >> he's got to localize it. >> but, look -- he also wouldn't allow the government to shut down. you know, he supported the budget deal, no shutdown. he also, on social issues, is conservative, admittedly, but when it comes to issues like transgender and should you discriminate against people for sexual orientation, he is not -- he has stood up against that. >> hey, terry, let's talk about some other things coming out of that quinnipiac poll, because they took a cut of the national race, and this was surprising. they found that, in florida and pennsylvania, clinton bested trump but by just 1 point, and, actually, sanders often did better than she did. and in ohio, they said trump led her by a couple of points, suggesting that the race is a lot closer. and you're shaking your

manchin said he believes her that they will invest in west virginia and move the communities forward after coal. but for the average voter connected with the coal industry that is difficult sell. and they are struggling and we'll hear the coal miners out of business. and in a place like virginia. they are direct and to the point and don't pull punches and you hear a politicians claiming that she misstated things, i can't imagine that goes over well. >> you just heard beau. he is a dopely religious guy and he was not disrespectful or mean. how can we believe you? that epitomizes the questions for people in west virginia. it will make it difficult in the race with bernie sanders and if she is the nominee going forward. that will be a trump state in november. >> and sticking with the democrats in november. there is not a lot of reliable consistent polling and our experts that look at polling in west virginia. how do you see things playing out between her and bernie sanders. >> sanders was up 2- 1. that has started to change. what i heard so far, hillary clinton has closed the gap to wit

. >> the whole issue of the debate, joe manchin, senator from west virginia said it was bs. when sanders challenged trump to debate. why would you expect bernie to be consider aet and nice and working to bring people together, he is not a democrat. >> those are harsh words. haven't heard that much -- >> not publicly. >> they've given him space, but you've seen patience wear thin. folks wanted bernie sanders to go quietly, diplomatically. we haven't seen that yet. manchin's comments are how people feel. >> bernie sanders has always been independent from state of vermont but caucuses with the democrats. you have been watching this closely. for all practical purposes, when hillary clinton says she's got it sewn up, is she right? >> mathematically, but like dana said if you have a situation where clinton loses california, the momentum of the states she lost in recent weeks is going to send her into the convention on a very down note, make it that much harder for sanders to be reeled in. >> the way the democrats divide delegates, if she narrowly loses, they basically split califo

even the careful people like pat toomey and joe manchin are exquisite saying we will have something onomething on gun safety but never hear that word gun control or certainly nothing like confiscation or resstration. you have to tiptoe up to that issue and even then you're in dire trouble with the gun folks. i'm looking what trump is doing today, going right to the base he needs to inspire to win next november. i tell you, he's got a shot at pennsylvania and michigan and wisconsin and ohio. if he wins all them, he wins. >> while you've been talking again, this very powerful video in the nra warm-up film inside the hall, how much power, how much clout will they have in this election? >> well, we often speak about one issue voters when it comes to abortion rights, opposition to abortion rights, one issue voter. no one is more of a one issue voter than a gun owner, about not sportsmanship people like to say, more about a sense of self-reliance to the point of the black helicopter joke the liberals like to talk about, people are afraid the government will come and take their guns away from

manchin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. manchin: mr. president, we've come to a crisis point in our country. in 2014, 18,893 people died due to prescription opioid overdose. an average of 51 people die every day. what we're talking about, mr. president, is legal prescription drugs that basically are produced by pharmaceuticals, great companies, they are approved by the food and drug administration. they are prescribed to us by our doctors, the most trusted person outside of our family. and with that it's become an epidemic. it's doing more -l harm to people than anything i know of right now. when i talk about an epidemic, we've lost over 200,000 people since 1999 and not to raise to the level that we should to fix this is ridiculous. and the trend is still going in the wrong direction, mr. president. 16% more people died in 2014 than died in 2013. we've lost almost 200,000 americans to prescription opened abuse since -- opioid abuse since 1999 and we must take action to stop the epidemic. unfortunately a major barrier that those sufferi

senator manchin tried to convince me otherwise but, you know, i didn't hear her say she would bring - hear the first part of that statement where she said she would bring those cleaner energy jobs to the coal fields but i'm hurting now. there is a lot of families that are hurting and going without right now. we're not worried about down the road. we're worried about what we're going to do for our families now. melissa: we mentioned at the beginning you did lose your job. what is going on with you now? what do you see in the future? how are you surviving? >> we're surviving on our faith in god. he has been faithful throughout all this. he has told us not to panic, not to fear. my wife is a professional photographer. what started out as a hobby a few years ago turned into our live lie hood now because god ordains our steps. and, sorry. melissa: no that is okay. take as long as you need sir. >> but, she, she is an amazing woman. she is amazing photographer. she is amazing mother. and amazing wife. and she really stepped up her game and taken on a lot and, god has, god has used her and he

. >> manchin hi you document that a pretty much came to a stop economically in the '30's and i agree with the argument with the left-wing friends but the other thing that happened in the thirties as the historian has shown that even though the government was screwing it up in the background how innovation was continuing so they were threatening to move to socialism or fascism so when we got over that we had a great boom. >> so first it was published 20,062nd in 2010 that the third volume is the sheer. >> praise the lord. >> i am working on a popular version that we are going to make thinking of airport type of book disease are all wonderful books they're not exactly summer reading i have to with it you can try. [laughter] >> i have short chapters i learned that a long time ago that is the way to go you can put it by your bed like a bible you can read a chapter and flawlessly. so we will do that and i have a longer-term project that you and i are involved in to revise a micro economics books because i really want to get economist understanding price theory i have a style book called e

she is with joe manchin, democratic senator from west virginia, came out under a lot of pressure whenhe initially made that statement to disavow her. he is sticking by her. having said that why is she in west virginia? she will not win in west virginia in november. she should be in california which is tight race. >> do you think bernie sanders wins indiana. >> i think bernie sanders wins indiana. >> open primary. >> open primary. much more white state. >> poles have her up 4%. >> she says the polls are inaccurate. she is expecting to lose. she hasn't spent money in indiana. >> not going to matter though? >> not going to matter. >> i don't see why she should be in west virginia. she should be in california which is tighter state. sandra: go back to the comments, we'll put a lot of coal miners and businesses out of business. >> right. sandra: you're saying that to a state and country still feeling very economically, feeling the pain economically. >> right. sandra: that's tough to hear from a potential president. >> it is true. may not matter in those states but i think you're right. the

but she s senator manchin's support here in our own home state. not sure she has a lot of people's support. melissa: folks have also said since then that you know, democrats in the democratic party in a lot of ways have given up on folks like you. they're really playing to the part of their party that is focused on climate change. i mean do you feel like, were you ever a democrat? do you feel like the party in general has turned its back on you? or are you open to any candidate that would help you? >> well, i'm really, i'm really just for anyone that is willing to help our region and to do it in the best way possible. i'm a registered republican and always have been but i'm the kind of person that if a democrat is the best person for the job i will vote for that. i pray about each decision as best i can. i go in hopefully with enough knowledge about each candidate. i let god guide me in those. i don't vote strictly republican. i do today because it is primary. but i will vote whoever i think is the best person for our area and that lines up best w

west virginia senator joe manchin called it bs he continues to push this debate. >> my panel is back with me now. ber, you heard sanders calling hillary clinton arrogant there. fair criticism? >> no. you know, to quote al gore, facts are stubborn things. this nomination process is finished. she's 3 million votes ahead, 800 delegates ahead without even superdelegates, almost 3 million delegates ahead. 55% of the vote. she's won 27 contests. compared to eight years ago, against barack obama, that race was razor-thin. i mean, yes, california and new mexico. the contest is over and he should exit the stage gracefully like ted cruz. >> i wonder if you have a slight different opinion on that. >> they should vote and two candidates to choose between. it's just not over yet. and yes, i will admit, that the math looks hard for bernie sanders. but it is also more -- it is still telling for hillary clinton that at this point she can't put it away against him. and is by the way, still use for the democratic roz that again it is nice the democrats are talking about substance, talking about the ec

we have to support with legislation that senator joe manchin is championing the minor protection act,o protect health benefits and pension benefits, the miners safety act, to protect miners who are still mining the coal. so i came here knowing that there was a great deal of incredible sense of disappointment, feeling disregarded and left behind. but i want to be a president for all of america. i'm not writing off any part of america, any people in our country and that includes people in west virginia in coal country. so i wanted to be here, i want a list of these issues, i want to create a political understanding of what we must do as a nation to support people who literally have supported us for generations. >> when you think of the sentencing of the head of one of these coal companies, who has been sentenced to, i think, a year. >> i'm told that's all the law permitted but it truly is an outrageous that someone -- >> theirs -- mr. blankenship. >> who was found guilty of compromising safety for the miners, who were mining the coal that made him a wealthy man. i think we need to look

manchin: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. be manchin: first of all, i want to thank my good friend from new hampshire, senator shaheen, for putting in this most-needed funding to fight this epidemic. and senator king from maine. we're all fighting it. my state has been hit the hardest of all states. new hampshire is right behind us as far as more deaths per opioid drug abuse than any other state. if you put this into perspective, what we are asking for, if you look at what we have done over the years, since four decades ago, the war on drugs, we have spent $1 trillion in the united states fighting the war on drugs, but we're fighting it the wrong way. we have all looked at this as a horrific crime, and we just kept putting people away. in that period of time, madam president, we have spent $450 billion to lock these people up in federal prisons. $450 billion, most of them for nonviolent crimes. now we're looking at we need to be able to treat this. this is an illness. to treat an illness, you have to have funding. no differen

the chair recognizes the joe manchin meant from south carolina, mr. wilson. mr.ilson: thank you, mr. chairman. thisleased to present report on the tree 17 national defense authorization act. i appreciate we are a subcommittee that oversees some of the most critical aspects of the department of defense including cyber command and major origins of the national security agency. andnse wise, science technology efforts such as the defense advanced research project or dark but and the military service labs. operations forces and programs that counter weapons of mass distraction from state and alike.e actors the subcommittee has been active in all of these major areas and truly represents a bipartisan product of which all members can be proud. review sensitive department of defense authorities, programs, and activities. we also participate in congressional delegations to me with our servicemen and women in the war against terrorism across the world. the members of the subcommittee take this oversight rule very quickly, as we remain current on a cities and programs invol

senator richard burr of north kearlg, senator manchin, senator tom coburn, my friend from oklahoma, senator alexander, senator tom carper, senator dick durbin, and senator tom harkin. we had a lot of meetings, we had a lot of discussions, we had a lot of negotiations, and ultimately worked together to determine a fair and equitable way to set the rate for student loans from the federal government based upon the federal government's own cost of borrowing money and combine the best ideas from both plans. we got the strong support of the president who encouraged the democratic members of our group to join in these negotiations and we reached a consensus. the bipartisan student loan certainty act which passed this body with something like 80 votes, and that has made a real difference for our students. here are some numbers: 50 billion, 5 billion, 277 billion. those are the answers. what are the questions? the first is $50 billion is the amount of money that students will save over the next ten years based upon the difference of what the interest rate would have been and what it's going to be. t

the person that hillary clinton was with, when this event took place is joe manchin, former positive,tor. somebody who took a bullet, aimed a bullet and obamacare and won election big-time in west virginia. he wouldn't be standing with her at all if he didn't think her policies overall will be good for west virginia. let's not forget, hillary clinton has won multiple times in west virginia in primaries. bill:to too. martha: absolutely. >> big picture she is very popular in appalachia. i think that will carry her there. martha: she is claiming she wants to work hard to put programs in place to help people transition into other jobs. bill clinton will be one of the people who leads that effort in coal country. that was larger context which we showed of her comment. >> right. martha: however, we are living in a pretty different political era and i look at this gentleman sitting at this table, you got to wonder is this, is this a democrat who might find himself voting for donald trump, matt? >> i think the article -- >> exactly right, martha. if you're a coal miner, look at that man. if y

west virginia senator, former governor, joe manchin, you know, his plan to tax opioid manufacturers atenny per milligram produced and secretary clinton said she has had losses within her own family friends have been affected. here she was. >> bill and i now have five family friends who lost their adult children to opioid overdose. we knew two of those young people. in their 20s and early 30s, quite well. they had everything to live for. they had no intention of ending their lives. but they also did not know the risks. >> this is a problem. keeps coming up on the trail. republicans and democrats all talking about it. >> yeah. you know, it's funny. it's bittersweet for me because i think people are starting to learn. we have 90% of all the opioids sold on planet earth are sold to people in the united states. we're only 5% of the world's population. we don't have 90% of the world's pain. what we have got is pharmaceutical company, industries, they're flooding the market with this stuff and killing people. and it's on the one hand and then when you try to take people off that stuff, someti

senator joe manchin is trying to get president obama on the phone. unable to do it.h she says i'm going to destroy the coal industry, i'm going to get rid of it. well, she goes to west virginia -- >> oops. >> she is face to face with this guy who is a coal miner. he's lost his job. watch this, he hands her a picture of his family. he said this is the family you're putting out of work. >> when you make comments like we're going to put a lot of coal miners out of jobs, these are the kind of people you're affecting. this is my family. >> i don't know how to explain it other than what i said was totally out of context from what i meant. because i have been talking about helping coal country for a very long time. >> guess what, when you say things like that you have to imagine families, american families that are hard workers and you're putting them out of work and they can't put food on their family's tables. and they can't send their kids to college. >> you had hillary yesterday saying my comments were taken out of context. you know, misstated. really? let's take a look

joe manchin said this is b.s. he didn't use the initials.emocrat. another congressman said this is a huge distraction. he's hurting the party. >> because it makes hillary look bad. she doesn't want to debate or be one for the people. >> right, she didn't want to debate bernie, but trump does. what does that say? >> right. >> she thinks it's a big joke. according to reuters, fox news has confirmed the network is trying to host a forum with trump and sanders. hope hicks with the trump campaign told reuters no formal plans for a debate, but jeff weaver with the sanders campaign says a few discussions between the campaigns have happened. and they say we hope that he, donald trump, will not chicken out. we hope that donald trump has the courage to get on stage now that he said he would. however, donald trump has made one caveat and that is he'd like to raise millions of dollars for a women's charity. >> let's move on and let's talk about something else that matters a lot -- hillary clinton's damn e-mails to quote bernie sanders who doesn't think

manchin questioned why anyone would expect sanders to unite the party. >> they should do it.e greatest show on earth. donald trump as the ultimate celebrity. he's going to want to do this in a massive auditorium. he could use it to bash hillary clinton. he could use it to use sanders as a pawn. >> what would be the downside? >> sanders could use it to win california. you could have hillary clinton losing california. she wins the nomination, but the democratic nominee losing california, what better way to get 50 million people to watch than to pull off a debate that nobody can miss. >> sort of a high wire act for sanders. i see why he would want to in the sense he's statistically in the biggest long shot in the world to win the nomination, but lock at the polls. i'm more equipped to take on trump than hillary clinton. if he got out there and cleaned trump's clock, a huge win. if he got out there and got thumped by trump, it would sort of cut the knees out from underneath him. i think for him given his position in the race, it's totally a worthwhile gamble to take given that he

well, three years ago senator alexander, myself, center manchin, king and others said something very simple. we're going to get politicians out of the business of setting student loan rates and we're going to let the marketplace do it. so that was a wise decision. as the law we passed the bipartisan student loan certainty act has saved since 2013, $36 billion to students taking out loans than their parents. and we'll save another $10 billion this year. that means that 200,000 north carolinians, students and their parents are saving even more on student loans. those 200,000 north carolinians take out about $500 million in student loans to attend universities and colleges because this law -- because of this law they've been saving and this year because of today's treasury auction, they're going to save even more. about $1.1 billion across my state alone because of the reduction in the treasury note from a little over 4% on the ten-year to i think 3.7 or 3.76 today. congressional research service tells us that about $4500 less will be paid out for a four-year degree. i hold this us beca