Putting American Families First

Former President Obama’s UN Agreement ‘Unfairly Jeopardized The American Economy’
SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “I applaud President Trump and his administration for dealing yet another significant blow to the Obama Administration’s assault on domestic energy production and jobs. President Obama made commitments in this deal based off a costly power plan that we knew at the time was on shaky legal ground.  By withdrawing from this unattainable mandate, President Trump has reiterated his commitment to protecting middle class families across the country and workers throughout coal country from higher energy prices and potential job loss.” (Sen. McConnell, Press Release, 6/1/2017)

• McCONNELL: “Throughout my career in the Senate, I’ve worked hard to defend coal communities and the jobs that they, and so many across the country, depend upon. These men and women have dedicated their lives to providing an affordable and reliable power source for our homes, businesses, and communities. They deserve our respect and our support. (Sen. McConnell, Floor Remarks, 3/28/2017)

“Why this matters: Pulling out of Paris is the biggest thing Trump could do to unravel Obama's climate legacy. … How it happened: A letter from 22 Republican Senators (including Mitch McConnell) that called for a clean exit had reinforced Trump's instincts to withdraw…” (“Scoop: Trump Is Pulling U.S. Out Of Paris Climate Deal,” Axios, 5/31/2017)

• 22 SENATORS: “…we urge you to make a clean exit from the Paris Agreement so that your Administration can follow through on its commitment to rescind the Clean Power Plan.” (22 Senators, Letter To President Trump, 5/25/2017)
• “Trump’s decision fulfills a key campaign promise to supporters of his run for president, widely supported by Republican members of congress who felt that the treaty unfairly jeopardized the American economy.” (“Donald Trump Will Exit Paris Climate Change Agreement,” Breitbart, 5/31/2017)

The ‘War On Coal’ Families Was ‘The Centerpiece Of Obama’s Climate Agenda’
“The [EPA’s power plant] rule… is the centerpiece of Obama’s climate agenda — but its sweeping scope and strict standards make it an especially contentious regulation.” (“Wave Of Litigation Hits Obama Climate Rule,” The Hill, 10/24/15)

• “The heart of the U.S. commitment consists of proposed EPA power plant regulations that industry groups and congressional Republicans are already trying to undercut, both by pursuing court challenges and by urging states not to comply.” (“Obama Pledges Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cuts,” Politico, 3/31/15)
• “…Obama and other world leaders [will] meet in Paris to agree to a worldwide pact to fight global warming. …Together, the regulations are the biggest part of Obama’s pledge going into the talks to reduce the United States’ greenhouse gases…” (“Senate Votes To Strike Down Obama’s Climate Rules,” The Hill, 11/17/15)

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: ‘A War On Coal Is Exactly What’s Needed’
“…Obama’s new rules are absolutely changing the trajectory of the power industry. He has been an ally in the war on coal …” (“Obama’s Ozone Lesson,” Politico, 10/15)

DANIEL P. SCHRAG, Obama White House Climate Adviser: ‘A war on coal is exactly what’s needed’ “The one thing the president really needs to do now is to begin the process of shutting down the conventional coal plants. …a war on coal is exactly what’s needed.” (The New York Times, 6/25/13)

HILLARY CLINTON: “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.” (“Why Putting Coal Miners Out Of Work Is A Very Bad Thing To Say In West Virginia,” The Washington Post, 5/10/16)

Obama EPA Official: ‘Make examples out of people,’ ‘crucify them’ “The Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean. They’d go into a little Turkish (sic) town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw and they would crucify them. And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years. And so you make examples out of people...” (Forbes, 4/26/12)

REAL IMPACT: ‘Come And Look At Our Little Children, Look At Our People, Mr. President,’ ‘We’re Hurting’
THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: ‘As many as 224,000 jobs would be eliminated’ “The country’s largest business lobby warned Wednesday that the Obama administration’s proposal to impose new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants could eclipse $50 billion in annual costs through 2030. … The Chamber’s study says as many as 224,000 jobs would be eliminated annually through 2030 under the proposal.” (“Chamber: Costs Of EPA Climate Rule Could Top $50 Billion A Year,” The Hill, 5/28/14)

• GARY LOCKHART, Coal Miner: “Our biggest worries now are just trying to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table, telling your family that this was all caused by the EPA, directed by our President for his political agenda.” (Coal Listening Session, Kentucky, 12/6/13)
• HOWARD ABSHIRE, Coal Miner: “Come and look at our little children, look at our people, Mr. President. You're not hurting for a job; you've got one. I don't have one. … We're hurting. You say you're the president of the people? Well we're people too.” (Coal Listening Session, Kentucky, 12/6/13)

FLASHBACK: ‘Mitch McConnell Is Going All In’ Opposing The Obama Administration’s ‘Deeply Regressive Energy Regulations’
SALON: “Mitch McConnell is going all in on his promise ‘do everything [he] can to try to stop’ the EPA.” (Salon, 3/20/15)

• LIBERAL GREG SARGENT: “It might actually work.” (Greg Sargent, The Washington Posts’ ‘The Plum Line,’ 3/23/15)

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “The Obama administration's so-called ‘clean power’ regulation seeks to shut down more of America's power generation under the guise of protecting the climate. In reality, this proposed regulation would have a negligible effect on global climate but a profoundly negative impact on countless American families already struggling. The regulation is unfair. It's probably illegal. And state officials can do something about it; in fact, many are already fighting back. I'm calling for others to join.” (Sen. McConnell, “States Should Reject Obama Mandate For Clean-Power Regulations,” Lexington Herald Leader, 3/3/15)

• “Earlier in March, McConnell encouraged states to opt out of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan with an op-ed in the Lexington Herald-Leader. On Thursday, McConnell took it a step further by sending a letter to all 50 governors...” (“McConnell Is Now Going Outside Of The Senate To Obstruct Obama,” New Republic, 3/20/15)

LAST CONGRESS: he Senate Joined ‘Avalanche Of Attacks On The Obama Administration’s Rules’ Assaulting Coal Families
“Both chambers of Congress this week are set to join the avalanche of attacks on the Obama administration’s rules limiting emissions from the power sector.” (“Republicans Attack Climate Rules To Send Message To UN,” National Journal, 10/26/15)

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “Tonight, the U.S. Senate voted to stand up for Middle Class Americans, and specifically our hard working Kentucky coal miners and their families, by voting to overturn the Obama Administration’s deeply regressive energy regulations that would eliminate good-paying jobs, punish the poor, and make it even harder for Kentuckians to put food on the table.” (“Senate Attacks Obama’s Landmark Climate Rules,” Huffington Post, 11/18/15)

• “The Senate resolution, which passed 52 to 46, would scuttle a rule that would significantly cut heat-trapping carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. That Environmental Protection Agency rule, released in August, is the centerpiece of Mr. Obama's efforts to address climate change. A second resolution, which also passed 52 to 46, would strike a related E.P.A. rule intended to freeze construction of future coal-fired power plants.” (“Senate Rejects Obama Plan To Cut Emissions At Coal-Burning Plants,” The New York Times, 11/18/15)

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