UPDATE!

One of the isssues we talked to Congressional Staff about during the Fly-In was the bi-partisan SJ Res. 26 that would have denied the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

The Resolution failed with fifty-seven Senators voting against it, and 47 Senators voting for it.

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Important Issues:

Members of WMC met with members of Congress and/or their staff to discuss issues. National Mining Association personnel provided summaries of the issues and and implications of bills and other government activities. WMC members were armed with packets containing one-page summaries of the main points that were given to the staff members visited by the groups. The statements included the following:

• "Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act" (S.1733). WMC opposes the act because it will increase cost of living for every American and eliminate desperately needed jobs.
• Proposed Tax Increases for Coal Mining. Coal mining has been singled out for $2.3 billion worth of tax increases that raise the cost of doing business.
• Clean Water Act Amendments will restrict 404 permits costing American jobs and revenue. The amendments will effectively eliminate the mountain top removal mining method.
• Curtail misuse of the Clean Air Act. WMC supports bipartisan efforts to stop EPA from misusing the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
• Employee Free Choice Act is opposed because the employees would be prevented from voting in private.
• Mine Safety is an industry priority.
• Permitting Delays cost Americans jobs.
• Maintain State Control over State and Local Water Resources. WMC supports maintaining the distinction between federal and state waters by retaining the term "navigable waters".

NMA excellently hosted the introductory session

Getting ready for Senator and Representative visits

Fun at the pub before everything started.

Summary of 2010 Fly-In