Coal union boosts giving to Democrats as hopes dim for industry revival

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

POLITICS OCTOBER 29, 2018 / 8:03 AM / UPDATED 32 MINUTES AGO

Coal union boosts giving to Democrats as hopes dim for industry revival

Timothy Gardner, Grant Smith
5 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. coal miners union has put a larger share of its campaign donations behind Democrats ahead of the Nov. 6 elections than in 2016, as dimming hopes for a coal industry revival led by President Donald Trump reinforce fears about the safety of worker pensions.

The United Mine Workers of America has donated nearly 84 percent of its money to Democratic candidates and committees in national races, according to a Reuters analysis of campaign finance data. That is a roughly 20-point jump from 2016, when Trump courted coal miners with promises of an industry comeback.

The UMWA, pumping more money into races this year, has spent $910,000 of its more than $1 million in total on donations to Democrats and advertising supporting them through mid-October, compared with $250,000 of $395,000 to Democrats through mid-October 2016.

The shift marks a setback for efforts by Trump and the Republican party to maintain control of Congress. He had won over many U.S. coal miners during the last election with promises to scrap Obama-era environmental regulations blamed for the industry’s demise.

While the Trump administration has rolled back some environmental protections in its first two years, the promise of a coal comeback has yet to be fulfilled.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-coal/coal-union-boosts-giving-to-democrats-as-hopes-dim-for-industry-revival-idUSKCN1N31GP

[tymorial]

1. I am sorry that these people lost their jobs and their livlihood

Many of them, their futures. They didn't like Clinton's response that coal was dead but it was the kindest answer that could be offered. Hope can be crushing; especially when exploited. We can use the donations but the message that the coal mines arent coming back ought to be stressed.

[lancelyons]

2. Hillary had the right answer

These coal miners and the companies they work for some how need to be retrained in other technologies. Help them with different career paths.

Perhaps they could become experts on Coal Mine cleanup and do this around the world..

or experts on clean coal production.. IDK but some retraining.