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United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil
Roberts, a long-time ally of Manchin's, said the sweeping bill
contained important measures like an extension of funding to aid
victims of black lung disease, tax incentives to urge
manufacturers to build new factories and employ ex-miners, and
protect union workers.
“For those and other reasons, we are disappointed that the bill
will not pass. We urge Senator Manchin to revisit his opposition
to this legislation and work with his colleagues to pass
something that will help keep coal miners working, and have a
meaningful impact on our members, their families and their
communities," Roberts said on Monday.
Biden and party leaders negotiated with Manchin for months to
satisfy his concerns over key elements of the Build Back Better
legislation, but the West Virginia senator surprised his fellow
Democrats on Sunday saying that he could not support the
proposal.
The Build Back Better plan aims to expand the social safety net
and invest nearly $600 billion to tackle climate change through
a variety of subsidies including for renewable power and
electric vehicles. Many Democrats have said the bill is
essential to the party's chances in the Nov. 8, 2022, mid-term
elections and efforts to combat climate change.
Manchin won re-election in 2018 as a Democrat in a deeply
conservative state that twice voted for Donald Trump.
The senator has objected to elements of the bill intended to
fight climate change, which are opposed by the coal and natural
gas industries that are economic drivers in his home state.
Manchin founded the private coal brokerage Enersystems in 1988
and still owns a big stake in the company, which his son
currently runs.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by David Gregorio)
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