Rep. Kelly Invites President Obama to Visit Regional Coal Mine
Rep. Kelly at the Capitol Hill press conference earlier this month with Sen. Mitch McConnell (right) and Jimmy Rose (left), former coal miner, America’s Got Talent star, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran (submitted)
U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) officially invited President Barack Obama to accompany him on a tour of a coal mine in Western Pennsylvania and publicly spoke about the invitation at a press conference co-hosted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
The visit is intended to give the president an opportunity to meet the workers whose jobs are most directly threatened by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Clean Power Plan proposal through a tour such as through the Enlow Fork, Harvey or Bailey mines operated through Consol Energy or possibly the 15 mines utilized by Armstrong County’s Rosebud Mining through Armstrong and Indiana Counties.
In response to the plan’s announcement last month, Rep. Kelly and Sen. McConnell introduced the Coal Country Protection Act in the House and Senate respectively.
Rep. Kelly’s invitation to the president can be viewed on his YouTube channel but includes:
“I am getting sick and tired of a president that acts like Superman and
when he sees coal, he thinks its kryptonite. Mr. President: This isn’t
going to kill you. It’s going to make you stronger. It will make America
stronger.”
“I want him to get off the back nine and into the mines. I want him to get
his golf cap off and get his hard hat on. I want him to walk the streets.
I want him to look into the faces of moms and dads that rely everyday on
this precious product and tell them that they’ve got to quit clinging to
their Bible and their guns.”
“It is a different day. This is coal’s day in court. This is our chance to
stand up and say what we believe in - what we know is right and what we
know is true. And we know what is truly American about this: The workhorse of this nation’s economy has always been coal.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration - an independent statistical organization - Pennsylvania was the fourth largest coal-producing state in the nation in 2012 - producing nearly 1,100 trillion BTU of energy, and the only state producing anthracite coal - which is mainly used for heating since it has a higher heat value than other kinds of coal.
Data newly-released from last week indicates more than 1 million short tons were produced during the week ending August 9 - more than the week ending August 2 and a year ago.
West Virginia U.S. Senate incumbent republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and democratic challenger Natalie Tennant have also pledged during their campaigns to fight back against President Obama’s Clean Power Plan proposal.
Rep. Kelly - who said coal production can make the U.S. economy stand apart from the global competition - first announced his invitation to the president two weeks ago during an address at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Regional News | jweaver August 20, 2014
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By jorn jensen, August 20, 2014 @ 12:19 PM
I hope this works. Obama likes to travel and leave an empty chair, so it might just work. He’ll be looking for sunshine and wind in the coal mine, but still try to get him there.
By Flamingo1, August 21, 2014 @ 11:02 AM
Coal is dirty and pollutes the air. Coal fired plants emit mercury, cadmium and other carcinogenic elements. I doubt Congressman Kelly heats his house with coal. He uses natural gas like the rest of us. Gas is abundant and cheaper than coal.
I want clean air and water. We all do or should.
The EPA rules were instituted 40 years ago and we now need to get in compliance for the health of everyone.
The fracking revolution is changing everything. Get a clue.
By jorn jensen, August 21, 2014 @ 9:31 PM
And there you have the liberal version. We can see coal’s effect on the liberal mind. There’s no chance that Obama would come here, especially with Mike Kelly beating him up like he did in this news article. Even a free golf cart and Tiger Woods caddying wouldn’t bring Obama here. This article is clearly a ‘get the voting base out to vote in November’ by pounding on Obama.
By cartman, August 22, 2014 @ 10:28 AM
Flamingo should go before a group of people whose jobs are in danger, and spout that line. I agree that Kelly’s invitation is a get out the vote idea, but I find that a good thing.
By omgicantbelieveit, August 22, 2014 @ 11:38 AM
Let’s see…a clean world for my future grandchildren or jobs for people? It’s an easy decision.
By blutoblutarsky, August 22, 2014 @ 9:14 PM
Jorn- You should run for president. Oh wait, you can’t. Plus if you think about it… you wouldn’t be able to get much done. You’d be too busy staring at the KP website all day!
By jorn jensen, August 22, 2014 @ 10:34 PM
I agree with you omigicantbelieveit, Precipitation cleaning systems on coal-fired plants for a clean world today and for our future grandchildren. Funny, though, that I’ve survived just fine, all these years, with dirty coal up and down this valley.
cartman - Flamingo is just ‘big’ on this website. He/she would pee their pants having to spout that line in front of a group of people.
By mad-2010, August 23, 2014 @ 2:22 PM
In response to the Obama empty chair comment: Let’s not forget GWB’s 381 vacation days! GWB took 3 weeks vacation after ordering the U.S. military to turn back Iraqi forces in Kuwait. GWB also stated he did not like talking about serious matters on his vacation!!
GWB was also on the golf course when he reacted to terrorist bombings in Israel, saying: “I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now watch this drive.”
GOP Short Term Memory Loss or Full Blown Dementia, take your pick! Maybe just foolish Rhetoric from a Transplant, that’s my guess!! LOL
By yep, August 23, 2014 @ 3:31 PM
So you’d be willing to give up your career if it meant having a little cleaner environment for your grandchildren? It’s always an easy decision when your life isn’t impacted by the decision.
By sickofpayingforit, August 23, 2014 @ 5:25 PM
Clean world? When China, India and others are worried about clean air, then our efforts will mean something. Until then, I vote to keep our guys working and keep digging coal. Why punish our local workers for a crusade that a large portion of the world’s economy is not joining?
By sickofpayingforit, August 24, 2014 @ 6:29 PM
Who cares how much vacation a president takes. They take office, lay out a general direction they want things to go and advisors/cabinet/staff do all the work. Once the grunts do all the work, the president makes a few decisions, polishes up what needs it, and then is the face that we see on TV announcing the program/change that HE created/made. Just like any other corporation.
Once he lays out the general direction, he is not needed until it is decision time, so if he is on vacation, it is probably better anyways so the people doing all the work don’t have to deal with him nitpicking while they are doing it. Again, just like any other corporation.
The president get’s a daily brief and I am sure he is looking at this on vacation. The president has advisors who know what he needs to know and when he needs to know it. Again, just like any other corporation.
It doesn’t matter which political party is involved, this is a broad-stroked example of how it goes.
By jorn jensen, August 25, 2014 @ 9:31 AM
Typical liberal, there, mad - still whining about Bush when you should be concerned with today’s real-time mess. 1. Trade 5 terrorists for Bowe Bergdahl. 2. VA ineptitude. 3. Obamacare disaster. 4. NSA leaks. 5. The AP. 6. The IRS scandal. 7. Benghazi cover-up. 8. Unemployment. 9. Fast & Furious. 10. $17 trillion debt. Never mind all of the golf ops as everything burns all around the guy. Keep on blaming Bush for this guys failures.
By jorn jensen, August 25, 2014 @ 9:34 AM
By the way, mad, what are your comments on Mike Kelly’s comments in the article above? That should have a true liberal fuming.
By jerry6, August 25, 2014 @ 7:43 PM
This is a different subject but there was no story on this to comment on so I started one. Just heard that Foodland in West Kittanning is closing in two weeks. Sad to hear this for the employees there. I guess Walmart is taking away this business. I never go to Walmart. I haven’t been in that store for months now. More jobs lost for this county isn’t good.
By mad-2010, August 26, 2014 @ 6:18 AM
I’d have to agree with you sickof…
By mad-2010, August 26, 2014 @ 6:57 AM
You’re so Confused, Megalo!! A simple comparison about empty chairs, you missed that! OK, try Your 1-thru-10 vs. the number of US Iraq War Casualties.. Give me your best Obstructionist Transplant response…
By jorn jensen, August 26, 2014 @ 8:15 AM
I care how much vacation a president takes. Off to Martha’s Vineyard, vacay @ $7.6 mm, private resort, over 75 rooms booked for staff and still collecting regular paycheck. Aren’t you sickofpayingforit? I do agree with the scenario that you present in your post - send him somewhere free for vacation and let him stay there and keep the regular paycheck - it is less costly than his vacations.
By mad-2010, August 26, 2014 @ 8:29 AM
If you say “never mind all the golf ops.” Why do you keep posting about the golf ops? “Keep on blaming Bush for this guys failures.” Who’s blaming Bush? I am just doing comparisons with the last GOP President. You’re just Confused. Maybe if you stop all the Political Demagoguery you will become more focused, talk about Maniacal, WOW!!
By blutoblutarsky, August 26, 2014 @ 4:09 PM
I’m logging my vote for Jorn Jensen- Court Jester of the KP site 2014!
By mad-2010, August 26, 2014 @ 10:44 PM
J, If you want a list of the last republican Presidents failures I’d be glad to list a few. Here’s one, Walter Reed outpatient treatment! I could go toe to toe with you any day with Failures!! You’re just Confused….
By jerry6, August 27, 2014 @ 8:47 AM
Jensen: Give Dave Wolfe a call and he will tell you who has taken the most vacations, etc. On the radio show yesterday, David told how many vacations Bush and Obama have taken. Bush far exceeded Obama. Also, Bush did more golfing than Obama. This compared Bush and Obama after six years in office.
By jorn jensen, August 27, 2014 @ 9:05 AM
mad and bluto - Why not concern yourselves with the content of the article rather than with me? mad - read your post of August 23, 2014, above - you dig up Bush as a defense for the current guy. Does that answer your question, “Who’s blaming Bush?”? bluto - your posts add no value.
By blutoblutarsky, August 28, 2014 @ 1:01 PM
Jorn- Your posts add value? What type of value?
As far as I know you’ve never solved one single problem with a comment you’ve made on this site.
If you have, please produce the proof. All I’ve seen is repetitive and petty political arguments from you.
So, lets see if Jensen can produce proof that his posts are valuable. I predict, not…
By mad-2010, August 29, 2014 @ 6:56 AM
J, Your “Obama empty chair” comment implies that the President would rather be on vacation than taking care of the business of running the country, that’s my take on your comment. I just corrected your Mistake. You say Frack-on.. I say, I was Born in the USA, get it….
By mad-2010, August 29, 2014 @ 7:18 AM
There is always value in correcting ones mistakes with the Truth!!!
By mad-2010, August 29, 2014 @ 7:30 AM
I’ll get `em stirred up, Dave.. Turns out to be your Pandora’s Box, right Jensen… USA,USA,USA…
By mad-2010, August 29, 2014 @ 9:21 AM
I have mixed feelings about this article. On one hand I don’t want people to lose jobs, too hard on the families and children. On the other hand I would like a clean environment for the future.. The Wizard of OZ can now be pleased..