Joe Manchin: “I had the enormous privilege to spend the last 2 weeks traveling around my great State to hear from the people of West…”

“I had the enormous privilege to spend the last 2 weeks traveling around my great State to hear from the people of West Virginia. It is always so refreshing to get a dose of commonsense from people who are working hard every day to balance their family budget, put food on the table and give their kids a better life. And I can tell you that the people of West Virginia are so frustrated and losing confidence in this government, especially when it comes to our broken tax system. Whether it was in Beckley, Ravenswood or Wheeling, I heard the same thing from the people of my great State. We just don't understand why hardworking, middle income people are paying a much higher tax rate than some of the wealthiest people in this country. Take our coal miners, who go to the mine every single day to make a living for themselves, for their families, but who are paying a higher tax rate than some people making a million dollars a year. Where I come from, that's not fair. Where I come from, that doesn't make any sense. Where I come from, that means our system needs to be fixed--in a real, responsible and fiscally sound way that reduces our debt. Now, let me be clear: I am not begrudging anyone who's worked hard, who has taken a risk or who has done well. But we have to have a solid country under us to achieve those goals. And we need to put fairness back in the tax system to get this country on solid ground again.…”