Charleston Daily Mail - GOP Targets Forgotten Measures

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With Congressional leaders divided over how to boost the nation's economy, members of West Virginia's delegation are trying to find a bipartisan approach to bolster the flagging economy.

President Barack Obama submitted his $447 billion jobs plan last month, though that died in the U.S. Senate.

Senators are now pulling out certain parts of the package that received bipartisan support and trying to pass them in a piecemeal approach.

House Republicans, including West Virginia Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, have been putting pressure on the Senate to start focusing on 15 bills that have already passed the Republican-controlled House which they say will help jumpstart the economy.

The "Forgotten 15," as they call them, include measures that would cut federal regulations of small businesses as well as provide additional oversight for agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"House Republicans have passed bill after bill to create jobs, increase energy exploration, streamline and eliminate unnecessary regulations, rein in the EPA and make government more accountable," Capito said in a statement Wednesday.

"We've worked across party lines in the House to get people back to work, but all of these bills have unfortunately hit a major roadblock in the United States Senate," she said. "It's unfortunate the Senate cannot look beyond partisanship and pass these bills."

The Democrat-controlled Senate leadership, however, has criticized these plans as advancing the Republican Party agenda that will lead to little job growth.

While leaders have panned the 15 bills, West Virginia's senators say they do support some of the measures.

Sens. Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, both Democrats, have each either sponsored or signed on to similar bills limiting powers of the EPA in the Senate.

Rockefeller has also sponsored a Senate version of one of those bills relating to coal ash regulation. The House version was sponsored by Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and is included in the "forgotten 15."

Rockefeller said he's been working to get that bill passed in the Senate.

"It will improve public safety, it will give businesses the certainty about regulation that they are seeking, and it will continue to protect miners' jobs," he said in a statement. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this bill forward and get it passed into law."

Manchin has also been working to garner support for a $60 billion infrastructure package that will go before the Senate for a vote later this week. He is optimistic on its chances.

"This one bill could be very close to being something that we have bipartisan agreement and creates jobs and rebuilds America," he said in a phone interview. "There's not one person in Congress, 535 of us, that does not have a road, water or sewer line that doesn't need repaired."

The only problem has been how to pay for the package - which includes $50 billion for infrastructure construction, and another $10 billion to create a national infrastructure bank.

Manchin supports adding a 0.7 percent surtax on incomes over $1 million to help fund that package.

He admits it probably won't pass, but said he has reached out to Senate Republicans to find ways to find some cuts to offset the $60 billion cost.

He's been targeting government subsidies for ethanol as well as spending on projects in Iraq and Afghanistan for cuts.

"I've been very clear that if we just look at what money we're spending on infrastructure in Iraq and Afghanistan and those countries that have not been accepting, appreciative and workable, there's money there to do this," he said.

"If we can come together on an infrastructure bill and show this country that we can come together, I think it would be wonderful," he said.

Rockefeller also said he supports the infrastructure proposal.

I strongly support investment in our transportation infrastructure because it will create jobs for West Virginians and spur future growth in our economy," he said.

Rockefeller said he would fight against "foolish cuts," during negotiations. And he said the focus on cutting budgets wouldn't stop him from securing more infrastructure projects in the state.

"As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, I'm working very hard to get a long-term highways and aviation bill passed that will address our failing infrastructure and save jobs for West Virginia workers," he said.

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