WASHINGTON – Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., talked to President-elect Donald Trump Monday to discuss securing health care guaranteed for coal miners as part of the Miners Protection Act.
“Today, I spoke with President-Elect Donald Trump and he assured me that he will help fight to secure a permanent health care solution for our retired miners, as guaranteed in the Miners Protection Act,” Manchin said in a statement. “I look forward to working with him, his administration and my colleagues in order to keep America’s promise to our miners and make sure they receive the healthcare they have earned and deserve.”
Incoming White House counselor Kellyanne Conway responded to Manchin on Twitter, tweeting, “This is called bipartisanship. This is called putting peoples’ interests above politics. Refreshing. Catching? That would be nice.”
This is called bipartisanship.
This is called putting peoples’ interests above politics.
Refreshing.
Catching?
That would be nice. https://t.co/H8dFEKGmNo— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) January 9, 2017
Miners’ benefits were set to expire at the end of last year, but were included in a continuing resolution passed by Congress in December.
Manchin skipped a meeting last Wednesday with President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats in regards to the Affordable Care Act, instead meeting privately with Vice President-elect Mike Pence.