Senator Joe Manchin says the obstruction must be “painful” to use.

Progressive Democrats who want the Senate to get rid of obstruction so they can get some of their top priorities in Congress have repeatedly faced opposition from Senator Joe Machin. The West Virginia Democratic moderate has a lot of influence in the Senate today, considering that his vote is critical and he has been one of the strongest voices supporting the obstruction, which effectively requires 60 votes to end the debate on a bill and proceed to the voting. On Sunday, Manchin seemed willing to give in a little, saying that although he is a staunch supporter of the obstruction, he is still open to reforming the way it works.

“If you want to make things a little bit more painful, make him stay there and talk, I’m willing to look at it any way we can. But I’m not willing to take away the minority’s involvement, ”said Manchin at NBC’s Meet the press. The senator expressed almost the same sentiment about Fox News Sunday, lamenting that it had become very easy to invoke the obstructionist. “It really must be painful and we’ve made it more comfortable over the years,” he said. “Maybe it has to be more painful, maybe you have to stand there. There are things we can talk about. “

Manchin’s words should not be taken as a suggestion that he could advance the concept of obstruction in general. “I would make it more difficult to get rid of the obstruction, I am supporting the obstruction, I will continue to support the obstruction”, Manchin also said about Fox News Sunday. “I think it defines who we are as a Senate. I will make it harder to get rid of it, but it must be painful if you want to use it. ”In Manchin’s view, making the obstruction more difficult to use could encourage a compromise between Republicans and Democrats. “My Republican friends are my friends, they are not my enemies,” he said. “And my Democrats are my colleagues, they are also not my enemies, this is my caucus. Together, we have to make this place work and it must be difficult to invoke pain. It must be painful for us, don’t make it painful for the other side. “

Even when he expressed support for the obstruction in general, Manchin also said that there could be exceptions. He did not rule out, for example, the approval of a bill for the right to vote by simple majority. But, Manchin warned, he would not support the movement unless he is sure that the Republicans had a fair chance to speak their minds and there was an effort to reach an agreement. “I am not willing to enter into reconciliation until at least we achieve bipartisanship, work together or allow the Senate to do its job,” Manchin said.