http://peoplesworld.org/big-coal-backing-rand-paul-gop/by: Teresa Albano August 6 2010
In Kentucky, coal is king. And now, it seems, coal operators are trying to crown their princes in this year's mid-term elections.
The Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader recently broke a story about coal companies pooling their money to defeat "anti-coal" candidates.
In a letter obtained by the Herald-Leader, Roger Nicholson, senior vice president and general counsel at International Coal Group, urged companies to meet about forming a group aimed at defeating Democrats they perceive as "anti-coal."
Mentioned in the letter were three races "of interest": Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, a Democrat, vying with Republican Rand Paul for Kentucky's open Senate seat; Rep. Ben Chandler, a Democrat, challenged by Republican Garland "Andy" Barr in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District; and Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall, who is being challenged by Republican Elliott "Spike" Maynard in West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District.
Maynard is famous for his French Riviera vacation photo with Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy. Maynard, who was a state Supreme Court justice at the time of the photo, wound up casting the West Virginia court's deciding vote to overturn a $50 million jury verdict against Massey.
It was at a non-union Massey mine where 29 miners died in an April 5 explosion.
ICG owns West Virginia's non-union Sago Mine, where 12 miners perished in a 2006 disaster.
FULL story at link.