Joe Manchin

Something is just not right there when you take everything away from a hardworking individual and say, guess what? Now you are going to be a ward of the state.

By God, I knew politics would enter into it sooner or later.

If they'd let you all sit down and work it out, we'd be in good shape.

The State should take the enforcement primacy, responsible for the enforcement.

I can't tell you how much this--how enjoyable this has been, and how much I've learned.

The ethics is very clear here.

There should be, you know, the balance between the users and the managers.

We don't think the State is doing the job it should be doing to make sure that there's a coexistence.

The Federal Government should be my partner.

The subsistence takers of the Chinook salmon have been regulated to the point where we cannot get nothing.

I'm trying to understand because I would be probably more in tune with the environment of hunting and fishing and outdoors than maybe a lot of other Senators.

But the 1-percent of the fish subsistence that takes care of the Native Alaskans is encroached upon by the expansion of commercial fishing.

I'm very much protective of the Tenth Amendment, States' rights.

Somebody's got to be responsible for overharvesting.

It's all about the commercial.

I believe very strongly in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution. Being a former Governor, I will protect that position until my last breath is taken.

The whole cycle. You're saying the whole cycle is not taken into consideration----

Just hearing all of you speak makes me want to visit sooner than later.

You should be so proud that you have a Senator that works so hard in both Senator Murkowski and what she puts into reaching out to all Alaskans to ensure that they have a voice in Washington.

Senator Manchin. Thank you, Senator. I appreciate it. First of all, I appreciate both Chairman Wyden and particularly Ranking Member Murkowski, who are both dear friends of mine, for holding this hearing.

I appreciate you coming and speaking to me directly. I do appreciate that. I'm considering everything we spoke about.

I'm concerned that this is short sighted.

Coal provides more electricity than any other single source in the United States today.

There cannot be back door taxes on coal or coal-generated electricity.

But we need a willing partner. We've not had that willing partner, sir.