WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is working on trying to find a path forward for healthcare reform in the Senate.
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Manchin met Monday before a potential vote on healthcare legislation being pushed by Senate Republicans.
Manchin told reporters during a conference call it is unknown what the proposed changes will be, but said he and his colleagues feel any proposal should go through the committee process.
“Every amendment can have professionals and experts come and speak on the amendment either for or against and we can put facts together,” Manchin said. “Versus just having a bill thrown on the floor and think you can make amendments at that time and get the facts.”
He said it is just not the way to handle major pieces of legislation.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) could call for a straight repeal of Obamacare, bypassing that process.
A lack of support from more moderate conservatives, including Senator Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), has jeopardized a straight repeal.
A revised Senate GOP healthcare bill collapsed last week after several Republicans announced they could not support it as written.