This just in from Friends of Coal, regarding Senate consideration of the global warming bill that passed the House on Friday:

While we hoped the “cap & trade” bill would not pass the U.S. House of Representatives, it did — late Friday evening.  One bright spot was the fact the entire West Virginia delegation (Capito, Rahall & Mollohan) voted “no” on the bill.  The National Mining Association said the narrow margin of victory, seven (7) votes, is a positive sign that will be helpful in blocking or complicating action in the Senate.  This bill needs to be defeated in the Senate, but that won’t happen unless everyone gets engaged, like you did on the House side, and send the same kind of message to Senators Byrd and Rockefeller.

They need to hear from you so they are aware of the widespread concern with this bill and the penalties it puts on West Virginians.  It is simply not fair to West Virginians and citizens in 39 other states who will be paying the energy tax so people in California, New York and eight other states can get money back!  Our Senators will most assuredly hear from those who want the “energy tax” passed.

Nationwide, this bill threatens to eliminate 67,000 high-wage jobs in mining, more than double your electricity bills, take from $1,300 to $1,800 out of your pocket every year while forcing American jobs to foreign countries.  On this Fourth of July, America deserves better.

Please send an email to Senators Byrd and Rockefeller asking them to oppose HR 2454, the Waxman-Markey Bill, that punishes West Virginians.

The email addresses for both Senators are included below, with their office telephone numbers and regular mailing addresses.  E-mails are the most effective means of communicating with their offices.  Clicking their e-mail addresses should initiate the message.

There will be routine reminders and updates provided on this issue and our delegation because contact by you is so critical and needs to be done on a regular basis.  On behalf of West Virginians everywhere, thanks.

Senator Robert C. Byrd
E-mail: senator_byrd@byrd.senate.gov
311 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3954
Fax: 202-228-0002

Senator John D. Rockefeller
E-mail: senator@rockefeller.senate.gov
531 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6472
Fax: 202-224-7665

It’s interesting that the coal industry isn’t focusing on criticizing the bill’s potential impacts on that industry … huh. I wonder if that has anything to do with what the United Mine Workers said about the House version of the bill:

As it stands now, the amount of money dedicated to coal in this bill is remarkable, and the future of coal will be intact.