Monday, February 01, 2010
Kentucky Lawmakers Oppose Coal Subsidy Cuts
KENTUCKY....
At a time when the coal industry is shaky, President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget is calling for a cut of roughly $2.3 billion in coal subsidies over the next ten years. Kentucky lawmakers fear it would create heavy job losses, and they have vowed to block the proposed cuts. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the president’s proposed new national energy tax and the tax on coal, “Both would hurt Kentucky families who are dependent on coal for their livelihood.” Representative Hal Rogers (R-Somerset) says, “This is just another politically motivated assault that takes dead aim at coal, severely limiting coal companies in their ability to create jobs and keep production lines open. Worst of all, it hurts Appalachia’s hardworking coal mining families at a time when the commonwealth faces over 10.7 percent unemployment.”
At a time when the coal industry is shaky, President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget is calling for a cut of roughly $2.3 billion in coal subsidies over the next ten years. Kentucky lawmakers fear it would create heavy job losses, and they have vowed to block the proposed cuts. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the president’s proposed new national energy tax and the tax on coal, “Both would hurt Kentucky families who are dependent on coal for their livelihood.” Representative Hal Rogers (R-Somerset) says, “This is just another politically motivated assault that takes dead aim at coal, severely limiting coal companies in their ability to create jobs and keep production lines open. Worst of all, it hurts Appalachia’s hardworking coal mining families at a time when the commonwealth faces over 10.7 percent unemployment.”
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:39 PM 
