Coal miners from major mining states like West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania came by the 100s to Washington to protest against the Obama administration and its EPA, which in the eyes of the miners are attempting to destroy the coal industry which supplies for their families.
At issue is the war by the Obama administration against mountaintop removal mining via the tool of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Controversial EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has stated her goal is to raise the so-called standards so high, that chance of having a permit issued for valley fills would be close to zero.
West Virginia state senator Jay Rockefeller blasted Jackson, saying she "doesn't understand the sensitivities economically of what unemployment means. Her job is relatively simple: clean everything up, keep it clean, don't do anything to disturb perfection. Well, you can't do coal and do that at the same time. God didn't make coal to be an easy thing to work with."
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., said she was practicing "strangulation by regulation."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, said, "Send them a message on November 2," as the coal miners cheered. You get the feeling the message will be sent loud and clear.
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