Government

For Some, Manchin's Sign Off Is A Matter Of Life And Breath

West Virginia, Carbon Mama, Built Us Back... Better Plan.

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MinerTechnology has carried coal miners far from needing to rely on canaries. Unfortunately, black lung is still a reality they work with as they do the dirty work that keeps our lights on. Biden’s Build Back Better infrastructure looked like a light at the end of the tunnel. But unfortunately Sen. Joe Manchin’s sooty…. You know what? I’ll stop with the coal-mining puns, but I want you to appreciate that an effort was made. The takeaway is that this thing is damned important.

The labor union noted that the bill includes an extension of a fund that provides benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease, which expires at the end of the year. The [United Mine Workers of America] also touted tax incentives that encourage manufacturers to build facilities in coalfields that would employ thousands of miners who lost their jobs.

This is a spit in the face, considering that Mr. Manchin owns stock in a coal brokerage firm, pushed for provisions in the bill that would land coal workers clean energy gigs, and was named an honorary member of the UMWA last year. For whatever reason, it looks like Manchin is flip-flopping on his support of the bill. This wouldn’t usually be that big of a deal — politicians flip flop like flapjacks — but Manchin’s vote is likely the one that would end a 50/50 deadlock, so he matters.

My hope is that Manchin falls back into the vein UMWA is familiar with him in — supporting workers. Christmas is coming up, and while there are a few kids who deserve to be on the naughty list, no kid deserves a Christmas without mom or dad because they caught the black lung.

Coal miners’ Union Urges Manchin To Reconsider Opposition To Biden Plan [The Hill]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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