West Virginia Coal Association Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton recently responded to a request by Senator Joe Manchin for input into his decision to support the Obama Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. Garland is known for supporting EPA power grabs. 

Following is the letter Vice President Hamilton sent in response.

Senator Manchin, 

I received your invitation to participate in the public discussion of President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland this Thursday in Charleston.

As you are well aware, the single most important issue before the U.S. Supreme Court is the resolution of President Obama’s “Clean Power Plan”.  Recall that in February, days before the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the High Court elected to stay the Clean Power Plan until such time the Court could hear evidentiary arguments. The Court’s decision was due in no small part to Justice Scalia's strong persuasion and vote, and the decision was in full recognition of the devastating implications of moving forward with the President’s Climate Plan if it ultimately is found to be unlawful or otherwise inappropriate to issue.

Clinton wants to “…put coal miners and coal companies out of business.”

CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Coal Association today issued the following statement about recent comments by Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

For the past eight years, the Obama administration has done everything possible to put our coal miners out of work and destroy the nation’s coal industry!  Now, Hillary Clinton has promised the same thing!  

Talking in coal-producing Ohio yesterday, Clinton said she is going to “put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business”.  Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association said, “why on earth would any candidate or public official, much less one running for President,  promise to put hard-working West Virginians out of work?  We have some of the best quality coal here in West Virginia, and the best coal miners in the world, who want a job and not a handout from the federal government!”

Clinton’s comments show that she and, apparently the current national Democratic Party – are completely out of touch with the needs and the desires of West Virginians who want to work!  “We here at the West Virginia Coal Association thoroughly condemn these comments and others like them as we condemn the policies of the Obama administration.  Like I said, West Virginians want jobs not handouts.”

HUNTINGTON – The Marshall University Marshall Thundering Herd want the world to know they are Friends of Coal.

This Thursday, February 18th, at 7 p.m. the Herd will play host to the Charlotte 49’ers at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. All coal miners and affiliated employees can use the promo code HERDCOAL on Herdzone.com, or just show your Friends of Coal sticker at the door to receive tickets discounted to just $5 tickets for the game.

The Herd’s Head Basketball Coach Dan D’Antoni said the night will be a “special night honoring the coal miner and all those who work in the coal industry in West Virginia.”
The team will wear its black uniforms in honor of our coal miners. D’Antoni called for a “blackout” at the game.

D’Antoni knows the importance of coal to the state firsthand.

“My grandfather was a coal miner and I grew up in coal country,” D’Antoni said. “The first 500 fans will receive a special Friends of Coal t-shirt and we hope everyone else will wear black to honor our proud history here in the state.

West Virginia Coal Association Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton said the event shows the bonds between the industry and the state.

“We are proud of our relationship with the state’s universities,” Hamilton said. “Many of our miners, their children, our management, their children and grandchildren have worn the green and white of Marshall. We appreciate Marshall’s recognition of our people and we urge all Friend of Coal to head to the Henderson Center this Thursday evening. Let’s rock the Henderson Center with coal!”

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey along with Legislative and industry leaders explain the importance of the Supreme Court's decision to place a hold on implementation of the Obama Administration so-called Clean Power Plan until after the court can rule on the broader issues surrounding the case. A decision that may not come until after the November general election.