UMWA Praises Boucher Efforts to Protect Coal Miners’ Jobs and the Coal Industry
The UMWA released this today – Not just fighting for the rights of workers, but for the jobs of workers!
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts today made the following statement regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 and the efforts of Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) to protect coal miners and the coal industry, and address the concerns of the UMWA:”Coal is America’s most abundant energy resource. We have more coal than any nation on earth. As the debate over climate change has evolved over the past two decades, we have not only insisted on the preservation of coal mining jobs, but argued as well for the essential part that coal plays in sustaining our national economy and ensuring our independence from foreign oil.
“While we still have concerns about this legislation, it contains many items that Rep. Boucher and others worked hard to attain and which we support, including over $100 billion to advance and deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
“The bill also includes our recommendation for allowances to be given to utilities to permit the continued burning of coal, which should ensure that coal’s market share will remain constant throughout the period required to develop and deploy CCS technology. With 2 billion in allowances for offsets per year, coal should remain a major part of the nation’s power generating mix. In addition, these allowances will protect consumers from large increases in their power bills.
“Although utilities are obviously the largest customer for coal, the steel industry ranks second. This bill allows steel to remain a major part of the economy, as well as the metallurgical coal mines that supply the nation’s furnaces.
“Rep. Boucher and others in Congress have fought hard to protect the interests of coal miners and all working families. We look forward to working closely with him as the legislation moves through the legislative process.”
The UMWA amazes me. Once again you have been sucker punched by the Democratic Party. I read your endorsement of Obama for president and it made me want to vomit. If you believe for a second that Obama and the Democratic Congress has the same values as a coal miner in McDowell or Logan, then you are complete fools. The Democrats are going to shove this Cap & Trade madness down your throat and amazingly enough, you’re going to smile, swallow, and issue a press release telling the world how good this will be for coal miners everywhere. The worst part is, Obama told you before the election that he would bring coal to it’s knees and you still voted for him. Why not separate yourself from the AFL-CIO and be honest brokers for your members instead of political puppets for the labor hacks in Washington. At least then, you could act independently and maintain some semblance of dignity. Dear God, fight for your members, not for those who wish to destroy the miner’s way of life!
grayrider111
July 4, 2009 at 5:41 am