By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. miners’ union urged Joe Manchin of West Virginia to reconsider his opposition for the $1.75 trillion Biden climate and social spending bill. This would preserve benefits that could have benefited their members.

United Mine Workers of America International president Cecil Roberts was a long-standing ally of Manchin. The bill includes important measures, such as an extension of financial aid for victims of black-lung disease and tax incentives that encourage manufacturers to construct new factories.

“For those and other reasons, we are disappointed that the bill will not pass. Roberts stated Monday that Senator Manchin should reconsider his objection to the bill and collaborate with his fellow senators to get something passed.

Biden and his party leaders worked for several months with Manchin to resolve his concerns regarding key parts of the Build Back better legislation. However, on Sunday the West Virginia senator stunned his fellow Democrats by saying that he would not support the bill.

Build Back better aims at expanding the social safety network and investing nearly $600billion to combat climate change. It also provides subsidies, including those for solar power. The bill has been praised by many Democrats as essential for the party’s prospects in midterm elections on Nov. 8, 2022 and to its efforts to fight climate change.

Manchin was reelected in 2018 in a deeply conservative state where he twice voted in Donald Trump.

He has objected against elements in the bill that aim to reduce climate change. This is opposed by his state’s coal industry and the industries that drive economic growth.

Manchin was the founder of Enersystems, a private coal brokerage. He still has a significant stake in the company that his son runs.