Manchin's Comments Create Hope for Bipartisan Entitlements Deal

Several conservative lawmakers said they welcomed Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., indicating the possibility of bipartisan entitlements reform in the next Congress.

Manchin, a moderate Democrat, suggested that lawmakers from both major parties might be able to find common ground on shoring up solvency for programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

"If we don't look at the trust funds that are going bankrupt, whether they be Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, highway, all the ones — there are tremendous problems right now," Manchin said late last week.

The senator's remarks earned early positive...