INTERNATIONAL: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is key to President Joe Biden's hopes of passing a $1.75 trillion domestic investment bill, said on Sunday he would not support the package. He audibly says that he cannot vote to continue with such piece of legislation.

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Manchin has been a key holdout on the White House's "Build Back Better" plan, which aims to bolster the social safety net and fight climate change and is the cornerstone of Biden's legislative agenda.

Manchin has made an statement that increasing the U.S. debt load would "drastically hinder" the country's ability to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and geopolitical threat. Senator Manchin’s support is crucial in a chamber where the Democrats have the slimmest margin of control and Republicans are united in their opposition to the bill.

Biden has said last week after talking with Manchin that the West Virginia senator had reiterated his support. The Democratic president had vowed to press in the coming weeks to finalize a deal.Though talks with Manchin had been going poorly, Biden's aides has expressed confidence in recent days that they would eventually secure a deal.

Many Democrats feel passage of the bill is essential to the party's chances of maintaining control of Congress in next year's elections.The package would raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations to pay for a host of programs to thwart climate change, boost healthcare subsidies and provide free childcare.

Biden has argued that lowering such costs is critical at a time of rising inflation and as the economy recovers from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans say the proposed legislation would fuel inflation and hurt the economy.

^{PHOTO: SOUNDBITE FROM U.S. SENATOR JOE MANCHIN (DEMOCRAT - WEST VIRGINIA)}