Which part of coal is the GOP ‘pro’?
The recent Friends of Coal Rally in Abingdon, VA had a decidedly Republican face on it. Although flyers advertising the rally claimed that all Congressional candidates had been invited, I was not. Ive had a longstanding commitment to coal miners and have worked to support improved black lung legislation. Coal mine safety and coalfield job creation are among my highest priorities. In spite of this, I didnt receive an invitation.
I guess thats not what they mean when they say pro-coal. The rally sponsors, the Eastern Coal Council, clearly had one message in mind: Regulations are killing the coal industry and if wed just reverse or reduce them, coal mining jobs would take off. According to press reports, most of the GOP speakers stuck pretty closely to that script.
As a farmer, Im no fan of one-size-fits-all government regulations, especially when they unnecessarily tie the hands of small businesses, family farmers or independent banks. Im fighting for sensible regulations that strike a better balance between peoples jobs on the one hand, and the safety of workers, the health of communities and protection of our environment on the other. I have publicly called on environmentalists to put the people who make their living from the land farmers, loggers, miners at the top of their priorities, rather than being exclusively focused on the environment. Its about balance, between workers and their neighbors, between our needs now and our childrens needs 50 years from now.
The GOPs position on regulations isnt concerned with balance. They are focused on getting rid of regulations, and not just those coming from the EPA. Apparently their pro-coal stance doesnt include the health and safety of miners themselves. After the Upper Big Branch disaster, Jay Rockefeller introduced a bill that would have required quick action to address hazardous conditions and increase penalties for flagrant safety violations. It was blocked by Senate Republicans. A year later, GOP leaders successfully delayed new rules that would have protected miners health by reducing coal dust, the primary cause of black lung. And even though more than 4,000 Americans died from work-related accidents last year, theyve worked to cut funds for OHSA, MSHA and other agencies whose job it is to protect workers. If were truly pro-miner, we should be working to make their jobs safer, to protect their long term health, not fighting to cut those protections.
http://augustafreepress.com/2012/06/11/anthony-flaccavento-which-part-of-coal-is-the-gop-pro/