POLITICO: Coal-heavy districts in West Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois that had been steadily moving away from Democrats in recent elections appear to have completed that shift Tuesday, when they overwhelmingly backed Republicans who vowed to oppose what they call President Barack Obama’s “war on coal.”
Coal was only one issue for voters, who also cited the economy and Obamacare as reasons for ditching the Democrats in the midterms. But with EPA moving ahead on rules to limit greenhouse gases from power plants, and its past pollution regulations helping push dozens of old coal-fired power plants into retirement, candidates who line up with the president became a tough sell in areas that have few other industries outside the shrinking coal-mining sector…
“Southern West Virginia in particular has been devastated economically over this last six years in the war on coal,” [Congressman elect Evan Jenkins] said. “It’s very difficult for West Virginia Democrats to explain to the voters why their party maintains such an anti-coal agenda.” … (more)
EDITOR: The coal industry in WV has girated between riches and ruins. However, this time it is likely both down and out, unless ecologically improved methods can be found for its use.
