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WV Coal Association Response to Brian Dayton of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce

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Legislature in Second Week - Governor Makes 6th State of the State

The Legislature opened on the 13th and, as of Friday, there were more than 1,200 bills before the body.  These are a combination of bills that carried over from last year’s Session that did not pass (House only), as well as new bills introduced this year.  A report is being prepared that will include brief descriptions of bills relevant to the industry and their committee references. 
 
In his 2010 State-of-the-State Address, Governor Manchin referenced the challenges currently confronting coal mining in West Virginia and encouraged those in Washington to allow our people to work.  Excerpts of his speech are shown below: 
 
…“As we grow into new technologies and business sectors, we must still support the traditional industries that have helped build our state and make this nation great.
 
West Virginia will play an increasingly important role in our nation’s energy future.

Mollohan Will Be Challenged

Three Republican challengers have filed for nomination to the 1st District Congressional seat currently held by Alan Mollohan.  They include David McKinley, former House of Delegates member from Wheeling, Sarah Minear, former State Senator from Morgantown and Tucker County and newcomer, Mack Warner from Morgantown.  The three Republicans will vie for their party’s nomination in the May Primary Election.  Although no one else has filed, there is one well-known Democrat from the district considering a possible run for the seat.  The registration period ends on Saturday, January 30th.

Ethics Rules Changed by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on business efforts to influence federal campaigns. By a 5-4 vote, the court overturned a 20-year-old ruling that said companies can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to produce and run their own campaign ads. 
 
The decision leaves in place a prohibition on direct contributions to candidates from corporations and unions. It does, however, remove limits on independent expenditures that are not coordinated with candidates' campaigns.
 
The case does not affect political action committees (PAC).  Corporations, unions and others may create PACs to contribute directly to candidates, but they must be funded with voluntary contributions from employees, members and other individuals, not by corporate or union treasuries.

WVCA New Members

The WVCA Board of Directors has approved the membership of producing member INR Energy with Stephen D. “Doug” Williams as their COO and representative.
 
New Associate Members are: A C Power Tech, Inc., Alex Cerreti, President; AirFlow Catalyst Systems, Inc., John Belgiorno, Sales Manager for North America; Compass Coal Services, LLC, William E. Massey, President; and, Pennington Seed, Inc.-Virginia Division, Dan Cosgrove, Professional Turf Sales.  Welcome to all and we look forward to meeting you at the Symposium.

Want to see what mountaintop mining really looks like?

The practice of mountaintop mining was the subject of a recent episode of Decisionmakers, a news feature of the West Virginia Media Network with host Bray Carey.

If you want to see what mountaintop mining really looks like --- what it really means for southern West Virginia -- take a look at this video.

http://www.boomboxradio.net/boombox/PlayerSetup/Players/WOWKTVPlayer.aspx?FileId=220918_wowktv
 
http://www.boomboxradio.net/boombox/PlayerSetup/Players/WOWKTVPlayer.aspx?FileId=220923_wowktv

http://www.boomboxradio.net/boombox/PlayerSetup/Players/WOWKTVPlayer.aspx?FileId=220928_wowktv
  

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