Washington DC - Senator Joe Manchin on Tuesday night outlined his ideas for possible filibuster reforms, which fall short of ditching the supermajority requirement to pass a bill.

Following a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats, Manchin said he was open to several concrete suggestions for filibuster reform.

"I think the filibuster needs to stay in place, any way shape or form that we can do it," Manchin said, according to The Hill.

Nevertheless, he did say he would not rule out small changes, including getting rid of the 60-vote requirement to start debate. Doing so would not prevent Republicans from using the filibuster to block a bill's passage.

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He also spoke of putting "power back in the hands of committees" by making it easier for bills that come out of committees with strong support to get an up-or-down vote in the full chamber.

Manchin then weighed in on the option to restart the talking filibuster, which would allow lawmakers to delay a bill so long as they are actually talking on the Senate floor. Once they stop, the bill would go to a simple majority vote.

The senator said he instead supports changing the threshold of lawmakers necessary to end a filibuster to three-fifths of those actually present, which would maintain the supermajority requirement.

Manchin's proposals do not go as far as many Democrats would wish as they seek to pass voting rights legislation ahead of the 2022 midterms. Any bills to expand ballot access have been routinely blocked by Senate Republicans.

Schumer has promised to hold a vote on possible changes to the filibuster for voting rights by January 17, including a one-time exception, which Manchin doesn't seem to support.

A filibuster exception for voting rights would require the approval of all 50 Senate Democrats.