Byrd says coal industry must change

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: The Charleston Gazette

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd says the American coal industry must change, as it has changed before, and that it's time to "speak the truth" and "have an open and honest dialogue about coal's future in West Virginia."

In a major commentary published Thursday, the West Virginia Democrat also said the suggestion that health-care reform should be blocked until the coal industry's demands are met in Washington is "beyond foolish" and "morally indefensible." Some leaders, including the head of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, have advocated such a tactic.

The longest-serving member of Congress in United States history called on coal industry leaders to stop using Washington and the permitting process for mountaintop removal mining as a scapegoat.

"Scapegoating and stoking fear among workers over the permitting process is counter-productive," Byrd wrote. "Public anger toward federal regulatory agencies can damage the state's ability to work with those agencies to West Virginia's benefit."



Read more: http://wvgazette.com/News/200912030846

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This is a major move for Byrd.

i don't agree with his comments on clean coal and a lot of things, but this is direct response to the rightwing infiltrators we have to deal with in the WV Democratic party and their demonization of environmentalists and the EPA. It's almost a point-for-point rebuttal to Senator Rockefeller's horrible pro-mountaintop removal commentary a few weeks ago.

Byrd said loud and clear that he'll have no part of the coal industry's attempts to derail health care or any other temper tantrums they may throw if they don't get everything their way on MTR like they did under 8 years of bush.

Byrd still has a ways to change, but this is a major step in the right direction and has everyone in the fight against mtr excited.

[elleng]

1. This is a major story, imo!

EXCELLENT!

[Hubert Flottz]

2. Good news...

We need to defend our mountains not defile them.

[hollowdweller]

3. Pretty Amazing

I never would have thought he would have said that.

But I guess this whole over the top campaign by the coal companies against ANY kind of regulation have pissed him off.

I mean it's not like the laws are any stricter lately other than they are just being enforced by the EPA.

If ignoring the law is vital to the WV economy I say why not legalize marijuana and allow every person in the state to grow and sell up to 2 lbs. That would help the little guy a lot more than strip mines polluting our water and these gambling parlors on every corner.

[eridani]

4. Proves that you are never too old to learn

This is very good news!

[Buzz Clik]

5. Fantastic. The reform of the coal industry will start on a local level.

Byrd is the man to catalyze this. :thumbsup:

[blm]

6. Wow! This is a HUGE story. Corpmedia isn't giving it much discussion, though, are they?

Gotta cash those big checks from Coal Industry's lobbying ads.

This is a huge move for Byrd. Truth is a soul cleanser. I hope more lawmakers follow his example.

[Ian David]

7. Every once in a while the shriveled old bigot gets something right. n/t

[Champion Jack]

8. About time Bobby. We won't get those mountains back once they're gone.

[amandabeech]

9. He probably thinks that he doesn't have much time left.

When he's thinking about meeting his maker, he wants to be able to say that he did the right thing in the end.

Whoever replaces him may not follow the same road to progress.

So let's hope that Byre miraculously hangs in there longer than Byrd probably thinks that he will.