Sen. Joe Manchin: Funding bill won't pass Senate

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Sunday a bill passed by the House that cuts off funds to the Affordable Care Act won't pass the Senate. 

The House Friday approved a government funding bill that defunds the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

The bill, which funds federal government operations until mid-December, will now be sent to the Senate for a vote.

In an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," Manchin said there's no way the bill would pass the Senate, but that a government shutdown should a budget not be passed is "an unacceptable option."

"There is no way we should be talking about shutting the government down," he said, adding that "we need real adults at the table working" on the country's financial house.

President Barack Obama on Saturday blamed the GOP for threatening a government shutdown and trying to eliminate funding of the Affordable Care Act.

"We really should get people together. The leadership should come together and start giving options that are viable options," Manchin said. "You know, from the budget standpoint, they say the Republicans are saying that we don't have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. Democrats are saying we don't have a spending problem; we have a revenue. They're both right and wrong. But we need a tax system that people believe in. And if it spends off more cash, can't we agree on how it should be spent?"