Commentary by: Michael L. Mike Queen Republican Candidate for the WV State Senate 12th Senatorial District Becoming an Independent Member of the United States Senate; Senator Manchin has No Where Else to Turn If He Really Wants to Help West Virginia With NO NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY in place and no plan to develop one any time soon, President Obamas EPA continues to deny mining permits for coal mines in West Virginia. Companies seeking new permits or renewals of current permits have been operating safely and in compliance with State environmental regulations for years. It appears as if President Obamas energy policy is to stop the production of coal -- which just happens to be the most affordable energy source in America -- rather than to invest in clean coal technology and research. In the meantime, how can America plan to expand the use of natural gas and capture energy through wind, water and the sun without a plan or policy in place to move America forward. And theres NOTHING that our current congressional delegation in Washington, DC can do about it! Although they know the value mining has on West Virginias economy, Senator Manchin and Congressional members Shelley Moore Capito, Nick Rahall and David McKinley cant stop the Democrat-controlled Congress from voting with President Obama. The Democrats are in control and President Obama is setting the agenda. I never thought that in a million years that West Virginia elected officials from the Democrat Party and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) would sit back and allow the Democrat Party at the national level to destroy our states coal industry the way President Obama has done. Production is down, jobs have been lost and coal severance tax losses are crippling coal counties throughout the state. The state had to borrow more than $100 million from our Rainy Day Fund just to balance next years budget. For goodness sakes, even if these Democrat and UMWA leaders supported an eventual reduction in coal production, why wouldnt they demand the development a national energy policy that demonstrates to taxpayers what that reduction means to electric costs in the future. And why hasnt President Obama developed a written strategy that states clearly what the reduction in coal production means to the United States ability to produce the steel we need for industry, construction and national defense? Let me tell you that I believe that Natalie Tennant (running for the U.S. Senate) and Nick Casey (running for Congress to replace Capito) are nice people. But sending them to Washington, DC only to re-elect fellow Democrats Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to lead Congress only insures that NOTHING will be done to help our ailing coal industry. Joe Manchin is my friend. He was in the coal business and was West Virginias leading advocate for coal as Governor. But for the most part, Harry Reid and President Obama have rendered Joe useless to having any impact whatsoever on helping our state fight unreasonable regulations pushed by the Presidents anti-coal EPA. If he truly wants to send President Obama, Senator Reid and the entire United States congress a message, then I believe that the best thing Senator Manchin can do for West Virginia would be for him to become an INDEPENDENT, work with the Republicans to take control of the United States Senate in November and then become the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. Senator Rockefeller is retiring. West Virginia is looking for a leader to represent us at the national level. As a former state senator, a two-term governor and now United States Senator, Joe Manchin is uniquely qualified to fill that position. On January 1st, Joe Manchin could very well be the only Democrat in congress representing West Virginia. In next Novembers General Election, most predict that the Republicans will regain control of the U.S. Senate and maintain control of the House of Representatives. The only way for Senator Manchin to help West Virginia is for him to shed his Democrat Party affiliation under the option of last resort. Since becoming a United States Senator, Senator Manchin has fought the hard fight to protect coal against attacks by President Obama and anti-coal advocates like Senator Harry Reid…..and Senator Manchin has lost his fight, time and time and time again. The Democrat majority in the Senate is against him. The Democrats national agenda is against him. Senator Manchin can remain a Democrat and do whats best for Joe Manchin. Or he can change to Independent, do whats best for West Virginia and send the White House and the Majority Leaders Office a message loud and clear. Change will only come with a change in the national agenda. The national agenda is set by the party that controls Congress. If this isnt reason enough to elect Shelley Capito to the United States Senate, fill her seat in Congress with a Republican and to defeat Nick Rahall in November, I dont know what is! End of Commentary. Produced & Distributed by Friends of Mike Queen Post Office Box 907 Clarksburg, WV 26302-0907 (304) 624-5080 Did you receive this email as a forward? Want to be a Friend of Coal ? Join here. The Friends of Coal is dedicated to inform and educate West Virginia citizens about the coal industry and its vital role in the states future. Our goal is to provide a united voice for an industry that has been and remains a critical economic contributor to West Virginia. By working together, we can provide good jobs and benefits for future generations, which will keep our children and grandchildren close to home. Friends of Coal | Suite 203, The Forbes Building | Charleston, WV 25311 Copyright (C) Friend of Coal.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:45:50 +0000
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