McConnell and Paul File Legislation to Prevent EPA Overreach Against Coal Industry

It's great to see these two working together to protect an industry that gives Kentucky its competitive edge. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul have filed legislation to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from abusing its power to grant or deny permits for, among other things, coal mines. This is crucial for providing certainty for businesses.

The news release notes that more than 200,000 Kentucky jobs belong to the coal industry, including those of 18,000 miners. The economic significance of the legislation for Kentucky therefore cannot be overstated.

From the release:

The [Mining Jobs Protection Act] legislation would tell the EPA to “use it or lose it” when deciding whether to invoke its veto authority of a 404 permit within a reasonable time frame, giving permit applicants the certainty they need to do business. Mines are required to obtain 404 permits from the EPA to operate.

The bill would ensure that all 404 permits move forward to be either approved or rejected, so applicants aren’t left in limbo unsure how to act. The bill also ensures that the EPA cannot use its veto retroactively.

“The EPA has turned the permitting process, which is already cumbersome, into a back-door means of shutting down coal mines,” Senator McConnell said. “The thousands of Kentuckians who work in coal mining or have jobs that are dependent on it are in jeopardy. Other industries besides coal are at risk, too: I’ve heard from farmers, realtors, the transportation industry and others who also need permits from the EPA to continue their business. Our legislation ensures that what the EPA did in West Virginia will not happen in Kentucky. Attacking an industry so important to Kentucky would put people out of work, impede job growth, and increase energy prices.”

“The out-of-control EPA is already costing the people of Kentucky jobs and their war on coal could cost us even more,” Senator Paul said. “President Obama is on record saying he wants to ‘bankrupt’ the coal industry, that’s why Senator McConnell and I are working to end this abuse by the EPA, and stop the Obama administration from killing jobs in Kentucky and other coal-producing states by trying to regulate away our means to make a living and drive up our electric bills.”

Paul Attacks EPA Lead Bullet Ban

Rand Paul's campaign is getting quicker on the draw, so to speak: Team Paul attacked the EPA's proposed ban on lead bullets before most of us had even heard of said ban.

It's a wonderful example of an over-reaching, clueless government. Is the administration worried that hunters will give deer lead poisoning? Note that the EPA did not even have jurisdiction over the issue, which means it will probably end up in court.

Forcing hunters to use non-lead bullets will raise the cost of ammunition exponentially. Given Election Day's proximity to various hunting seasons, this was a politically tone deaf move by an administration that has shown complete contempt for the sort of people who buy ammunition. Oh, and fishermen -- the ban would apply to lead sinkers, sort of a metaphor for the president's approval ratings.

Here's the release from the Paul campaign:

The EPA is considering a petition by environmentalists to ban ammunition containing lead. It may sound outlandish, but with Obama's EPA you never know what they may decide to regulate next.

The EPA is already out to get Kentucky's coal industry through the back-door with climate legislation like Cap and Trade. This would cost Kentucky families dearly in lost jobs and wages in this bad economy.

Rand Paul will work to stop the EPA from killing Kentucky jobs, and stop the Obama administration from trying to regulate away our freedoms. Dr. Paul wants to sunset all wrongheaded regulations by the EPA. That's why Kentucky needs to send Rand Paul to the Senate; he is the only one who will stand up against the out of control feds.

Does Jack Conway stand with the Obama administration and the EPA on banning ammunition?