Clem Guttata at West Virginia Blue had a post today asking who would be the first reporter in West Virginia to get one of our elected officials to answer this question:

“If West Virginia wants to maximize coal mining employment, doesn’t more underground mining do that instead of more mountain top mining?”

OK, I’ll bite … I have this evening sent this question to staffers for Gov. Joe Manchin, Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, and Reps. Nick Rahall, Alan Mollohan and Shelley Moore Capito.

I know, that’s only West Virginia’s congressional delegation. So maybe some reporters in other states who follow Coal Tattoo will ask their elected representatives the same question, obviously inserting their own state names instead of West Virginia.

If I hear back from any of West Virginia’s folks — and I’m giving them a deadline of early next week — I’ll collect those responses and post them here on Coal Tattoo.