EKB News

WEST VIRGINIA....
West Virginia-based International Coal Group is asking its competitors to take advantage of a U.S. Supreme Court decision loosening restrictions on corporate contributions to political causes. International wants other mining companies to pool their money for a political offensive against Democratic U.S. Reps. Nick Rahall of West Virginia and Ben Chandler of Kentucky, and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky whom they believe are anti-coal. ICG Senior Vice President Roger Nicholson says four companies, including Massey Energy, have already had "theoretical discussions" about the initiative and are developing an action plan, but Massey says it has not committed to being involved in a 527 at this time. Nicholson has proposed that interested companies meet in August during a West Virginia Coal Association event. Mine safety advocate Tony Oppegard, a Lexington attorney and former government regulator, says he's concerned because the companies that seem to be behind the effort have poor safety records and have all had miners die recently. United Mine Workers regional vice president Steve Earle has called the proposal appalling, saying he considers it blood money, and the coal industry absolutely wants to defeat anyone in Congress who wants to stand on the side of right.