Sen. Joe Manchin announced Friday he has new assurances that Congress will extend coal miner health benefits, and he seemed prepared to lift his objection to a vote on a government spending bill before a critical midnight deadline.
Manchin relented on the pre-midnight vote amid pressure from Democrats, even those who back his effort to win longer benefits for the miners.
Manchin took the floor with several of his Democratic colleagues, many of whom stressed that they were not about to let the government partially shutdown over the healthcare fight. Manchin himself didn’t say when votes might happen, but his colleagues made it clear they would happen soon.
“We are not going to shut down the government on this issue,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. “But we are going to make sure this fight does not end tonight.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., joined them on the floor and said it was never the intention of Democrats to shut down the government.
Still, Democratic leadership aides would not confirm a vote would happen before midnight, which is when the current spending resolution expires.