washington coal mine executive robert murray one donald trump big campaign backers say friday want president-elect support bill would protect health pension benefit thousands coal miners retire company go bust outspoken founder ohio-based murray energy corp say ask trump campaign promise help coal industry speak behalf spend bill provision currently tie congress ask vice president-elect mike pence involve verbally write murray tell reuters interview murray say yet hear back trump transition official respond request comment murray energy among big contributors trump bid presidency 100,000 donation trump victory pac pac large company accord trump fundraise committee late file murray also host fundraisers republican candidate campaign trail trump coal-producing state promise revive sector put laid-off miners back work scrap regulations say hobble industry coal price sink recent years due competition cheap natural gas rule combat climate change usher president barack obama senate contemplate spend bill contain provision extend benefit retire coal miners whose company go bankrupt next april coal state democratic senators agitate longer-term solution threaten government shutdown group republicans include senate majority leader mitch mcconnell kentucky resist bill limbo white house spokesman josh earnest say thursday obama administration hop bipartisan common grind address need 20,000 coal miners slat lose health insurance end month dozens unite mine worker retire miners capitol hill week hold rally visit lawmakers urge pass longer-term solution umwa spokesman phil smith say trump transition team aware issue say anything publicly one handful u.s. coal company declare bankruptcy murray say company struggle pay health pension fund compete company go bankruptcy proceed coal ceo press trump speak miners benefit