Reports: Manchin Considered for Cabinet
Trump Said To Be Eyeing W.Va. Dem For Energy Secretary
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From Staff Reports
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is being considered for a job as energy secretary in President-elect Donald Trump's new administration, according to a report from Politico.
Manchin would be the second Democrat Trump is reportedly considering for a Cabinet post. The Trump team formally announced Thursday that Sen. Heidi Heitkamp from fossil fuel-rich North Dakota is expected to visit Trump in New York today.
Heitkamp has been a vocal opponent of President Obama's climate rules and favors the the development of clean coal technology.
Manchin on Thursday said that, although he has not been contacted by Trump, he would consider the appointment.
Manchin told the Washinton Examiner, "If I can do anything to help my state of West Virginia, and my country, I will talk to anybody about ways to do that."
Attempts to reach Manchin's staff Friday for comment were unsuccessful.
During a recent speech on the Senate floor, Manchin said, "I truly believe if we work together and focus on a commonsense approach…we can develop a strong bipartisan energy plan that will not only break the power of foreign oil countries and speculators, but will chart a new and promising energy future for this great nation."
Sources close to Trump said an announcement could come next week on the president-elect's picks for the Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Manchin is up for re-election in 2018.
Meanwhile, Manchin continues pushing legislation to protect coal miners' health care benefits.
Manchin is encouraging West Virginia coal miners and their families to send him their stories so he can read them on the Senate floor, as he pushes for a vote on the Miners Protection Act.
"In October, 12,500 of our nation's coal miners, including 5,654 West Virginians, received notices informing them that their health care benefits will be terminated by the end of this year, but they have just over a week to purchase new plans and try to figure out how to pay for them," Manchin said in a press release.