Renews call for fight against anti-coal agenda of Obama Administration
CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Coal Association and Friends of Coal would like to congratulate Senator Joe Manchin on his election to the unexpired two-year term of the late-Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Manchin has been strong and effective governor. We believe he will continue to be a strong voice for coal and the West Virginia coal miner in Washington. He has repeatedly stood up to the Democratic leadership in Congress and to the Obama Administration on our people’s behalf while trying to break the logjam of permits from the federal EPA.
Governor Manchin has built a reputation as a common sense, bi-partisan leader among the nation’s governors and we believe he will be the voice of reason and credibility for coal, our jobs and our people that is so desperately needed in the halls of Congress. Our prayers and strength are with him and Gayle as they take the strong West Virginia values of truth, hard work and patriotism to the United States Senate.
“We’re depending on him,” Bill Raney, president of the Coal Association, said. “Governor Manchin gets it! He knows what we need to keep our people working in the West Virginia coal fields and we’re confident he will do everything possible to make sure that happens!”
Nationally, the Republicans won control of the House of Representatives with a sweeping, historic shift of seats. Democrats were able to hold onto the Senate, but the Republicans narrowed the Democratic majority to just two or three seats depending on the outcome of several too-close-to-call races. Regardless of the outcome of these remaining races, the message is clear. America was sending a message to the Obama Administration and the Democratic leadership that they want real, common sense answers to the problems facing this country. They want out-of-control spending and radical policies to stop. Most of all, they want jobs. They want this administration to put coal mining people ahead of radical agendas and personal philosophies!
The West Virginia Coal Association and the Friends of Coal joins in that call. We call for the Obama Administration to bring an end to its war on coal. We call on the Obama Administration to put people ahead of personal agendas and jobs – coal mining jobs -- at the top of the list of things to get done quickly. West Virginia coal can continue to be the fuel for our nation's economic engine, leading our nation back to security and prosperity. It is time for the folks in Washington to listen to a healthy dose of good, old-fashioned West Virginia common sense.