On Monday afternoon, four hours after resigning as West Virginia’s 34th Governor, Joe Manchin was sworn in as the nation’s newest United States Senator by Vice President Joe Biden in the Senate chambers of the U.S. Capitol.  Senator Manchin was accompanied by his wife, Gayle, and his mother.  Senator Manchin is 84th in seniority of the 100 member United States Senate.

Just two days after being sworn in as West Virginia’s newest United States Senator, Joe Manchin extracted a promise from Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that cap and trade legislation would not come before the Senate next year (2011). According to NMA, Reid’s office confirmed the promise. "Given the election results, there is no chance we can deal with cap and trade," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said.

Following a meeting on Tuesday with prominent Democrats, including Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) told reporters “whether we like it or not, cap and trade has no chance of passage in the next Congress.” (in part from NMA Mining Week)

To insure a seamless transfer of authority, Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin was quietly and privately sworn-in as West Virginia’s Acting Governor by Kanawha Circuit Judge Todd Kaufman, immediately following Governor Manchin’s resignation on Monday.  A public investiture ceremony for Senator Tomblin’s succession as the 2nd Acting Governor in the State’s history was held in front of the Senate chambers in the State Capitol on Tuesday.  The brief 42 minute ceremony included Governor Tomblin’s 10 minute acceptance speech that accentuated the objective of his administration to “Putting West Virginia First”.

The Association briefed Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and his Chief of Staff, Rob Alsop on issues relevant to the state’s coal industry this week.  Chairman Gary White was joined by Bill, Chris and Jason.

West Virginia’s 2nd District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito will receive the Annual Achievement Award from the Washington Coal Club at its Annual Banquet on December 1st at the Washington Court Hotel in DC.  Congressman Jason Altmire (PA) and Senators Jim Bunning (KY) and Kit Bond (GA) will also be recognized at the banquet.

Speaking to last week’s Annual Energy Conference of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce, NMA President Hal Quinn said although the new Congress may be more mining friendly than the current one, the federal regulatory agencies are likely to remain hostile to the mining community and pose a potent threat in the months ahead.

“We will face a greater threat from unelected regulators than from Congress,” said Quinn. “From the EPA and OSM to the SEC and MSHA, our industry will continue to be the target of costly rules that the new Congress can blunt but not always stop.”

“The mid-term elections have bolstered the number of mining-friendly members of Congress who will take their seats in the House and Senate in January,” said Quinn. “Although the cavalry may be riding to the rescue, the settlers may already be dead, especially if regulators succeed in imposing a welter of rules covering valley fills, air quality standards, greenhouse gas emissions and additional mine safety authorities and reporting requirements.” (NMA Mining Week)