Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and former Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) expressed their disappointment with the state of Congress in a joint interview on Sunday. Manchin stated that Americans should feel “ashamed” of the legislative body.
Manchin expressed that all individuals should feel ashamed of the current situation in the 118th Congress during his CNN interview with Manu Raju.
The House has faced challenges in passing any laws for months, depending on short-term funding agreements and frequently being threatened with changes in leadership. Portman described Congress as “dysfunctional.”
During the interview, the moderates admitted to their dissatisfaction with their respective parties. Manchin has had ongoing conflicts with the Biden administration, while Portman opposed former President Trump before retiring from the Senate after the 2022 election.
They did not commit to endorsing either Biden or Trump. Manchin stated that Biden “should take responsibility for the issues” concerning immigration and border policies. He also mentioned that House Republicans should share in the blame, as they rejected a bipartisan Senate bill on border security earlier this year. Manchin added, “Whatever Joe Biden has done that was wrong and gets blamed for, it’s worse now that we know we can fix it and it’s done in a bipartisan way, and you won’t accept it.” Portman commented that the spirit of bipartisanship, which he cherished during his time in the Senate, is now absent.
“You can be MAGA Republican, you can be a progressive Democrat, but if you’re willing to look at your job as solving problems, then you figure out how to find common ground,” Portman said. “And that needs to be the overriding concern. I worry that that is in short supply in the Senate today.”
Manchin announced earlier this year that he will not run for reelection in November, which is likely to result in his seat being taken by a Republican. This has intensified the race for the Senate majority as both parties vie for control of swing states.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and former Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) reflected on the state of Congress in a joint interview on Sunday, during which Manchin urged Americans to feel “ashamed” of the legislative body. Manchin expressed that everyone should feel ashamed of the current situation in the 118th Congress.
Manchin announced earlier this year that he will not run for reelection this November, likely leaving his seat to a Republican. The move has made the race for the Senate majority even tighter, as both parties battle over swing states.
