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W.V. lawmakers take concerns to EPA in D.C.
July 25, 2013
By Phil Sletten
CHARLESTON, West Virginia: A group of 15 to 17 Democratic state lawmakers plans to meet with Environmental Protection Agency administrators in Washington, D.C., to discuss regulations that are hurting the coal industry. Senate President Jeffrey Kessler (D) and House Speaker Tim Miley (D) will lead the excursion, which will include the chairman of the state Democratic party. The bus trip, which state legislators are paying for themselves, will also include meetings with U.S. Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV) and U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The trip will begin August 1.[1]
Miley noted that, despite differing views of people on the trip and in the state, coal is critical to the economy of West Virginia, and the delegation will hopefully put a face on the complaints and concerns of the people of West Virginia.[2] Delegate Mike Caputo (D) noted that EPA administrators need to be made aware of the potential devastation to West Virginia's economy resulting from these regulations. He pointed to McDowell County, which was devastated after coal mining left the area.[3]
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (D) released a statement supporting the trip, saying that "This new directive to the EPA is another attempt by the Obama administration to end the use of coal as we know it. Not only will this proposed regulation devastate West Virginia and the region by eliminating jobs for our citizens, it would unnecessarily increase the cost of power across the nation."[4] The trip has also been endorsed by the West Virginia AFL-CIO, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, United Mine Workers of America, and the West Virginia Coal Association. The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce president expressed hope that the administration would listen to the group of Democrats.[5]
State Republicans were critical of the trip, however. The state Republican party chair released a statement calling the press conference announcing the trip "a way for Democrats to distract from key issues and their steadfast support of anti-coal policies," and adding that "[t]he party of Obama and his endorsers who stood at the Governor's office today have done everything possible to destroy the coal industry, raise energy prices, allow the government to take over health care and weaken our nation."[6][1]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 WVVA, "WV Democratic lawmakers to travel to Washington for EPA meeting," July 24, 2013
- ↑ Charleston Daily Mail, "State democrats headed to DC," July 24, 2013
- ↑ The State Journal, "WV Democrats to meet with EPA, Obama administration," July 25, 2013
- ↑ The Exponent Telegram, "Tomblin issues statement supporting W.Va. leaders headed to D.C.," July 24, 2013
- ↑ The Charleston Gazette, "W.Va. Democrats, others plan pro-coal trip to D.C.," July 24, 2013
- ↑ The Register-Herald, "W.Va. legislators to ask EPA to relax stringent regulations," July 24, 2013 (dead link)
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