With primaries coming up in coal-rich states such as Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton may have surprised Buckeye State voters when she vowed (threatened?) to put coal miners out of business.
The remarks echo those of Barack Obama when he claimed his strict regulations on the coal industry would cause electricity rates to “necessarily skyrocket.”
Clinton’s comments came at a townhall:
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
A report from four months ago indicate that Obama’s war on coal has cost over $650 billion and 125,000 jobs.
As for how well Clinton’s position on coal was received, the Ohio Coal Association notes these “quick facts” about the industry in their state. To wit:
- Coal provides over 69% of the state’s electricity.
- The industry directly and indirectly employs 33,000 Ohioans.
- Coal is affordable, providing electricity at about half the cost of other fossil fuels.
The Republican National Committee responded to Clinton’s seeming gaffe with this statement:
Each Democrat town hall is a reminder of the out-of-touch and extreme policies being proposed by the Democrat Party. A majority of Americans want a new direction for the country after eight years of failed policies under President Obama, but Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders continue to offer more of the same misguided agenda that has made us less prosperous, less safe, and less free.
Cross-posted at the Mental Recession
