Interview with Sen. Joe Manchin: A Discussion on 'Face the Nation'

CBS News invited Senator Joe Manchin to a conversation on 'Face the Nation,' hosted by Margaret Brennan.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you, Senator Manchin, for joining us.

SEN. MANCHIN: It's always a pleasure, Margaret. Happy to be here.

MARGARET BRENNAN: There's a lot of talk about the uncertainty in Congress, particularly about reaching a deal to keep the government operational beyond December 20. With Elon Musk and President-Elect Trump opposing the current bipartisan effort at the last moment, do you foresee a government shutdown?

SEN. MANCHIN: I believe we will avoid a shutdown. The lessons from the 2013 shutdown, where numerous citizens suffered due to our gridlock, are still remembered here. No one wishes to return to that. We're likely to see numerous continuing resolutions. Unfortunately, this stopgap approach is inefficient and costly for government operations, particularly affecting military readiness.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The influence seems to be coming from external figures like Elon Musk, rather than elected officials.

SEN. MANCHIN: True, although there were agreements as part of the continuation discussions, Elon’s upcoming oversight in the new administration puts added pressure to scrutinize these agreements carefully. However, labeling them as rational objections might be a stretch. The 118th Congress has seen arguably the least activity, and it remains crucial for bipartisan cooperation to pick up if any progress is to be made.

Challenges in Legislative Progress

MARGARET BRENNAN: Despite Democrats participating in bipartisan efforts on the funding deal, President-Elect Trump rejected it. Are you willing to support the Democratic leadership's approach to this dilemma?

SEN. MANCHIN: Fundamentally, I won't sanction shutting down the government. But with the current environment, it's likely that many will accept whatever the House decides to maintain operations. The reality is, we might need to settle for less than optimal solutions to avoid immediate crises.

Debt Ceiling Debates

MARGARET BRENNAN: President-Elect Trump insists on resolving the debt ceiling issue before January 20. Can this even be feasible in the current Congress?

SEN. MANCHIN: Overcoming this will demand bipartisan collaboration and at least eleven Democrats siding with all Republicans, which I find unlikely. Republicans might need to handle this fully when they take the reins, due to the complexities and responsibilities involved.

Energy Policy and Permitting Reforms

MARGARET BRENNAN: You've been advocating for permitting reforms to facilitate energy production. What is the current status of this initiative?

SEN. MANCHIN: We've crafted a promising permitting bill through bipartisan efforts, which balances current energy demands with future technology investments. However, support from the incoming administration would be pivotal to push this through amidst looming legislative hurdles.

Concluding Thoughts on Bipartisanship

MARGARET BRENNAN: The balance between your independence and party expectations is evident. How do you navigate these waters, particularly with the incoming administration looking to shake up systems outright?

SEN. MANCHIN: Emphasizing unity and bipartisanship remains paramount. I believe in collaboration across the aisle, and with my Republican peers who uphold institutional integrity, I trust we can maintain the functionality of our government mechanisms.

The conversation concluded with both recognizing the critical need for cooperative efforts to navigate upcoming political and legislative challenges.