Jack Conway has received hundreds of thousands in contributions from out-of-state special interest groups and far-left Democrats who strongly support the “Cap & Trade” legislation.
Conway himself has invested millions of his personal fortune in Kinder-Morgan, a Texas Natural Gas Company that opposes Kentucky’s coal industry. In the past year alone, Conway has made over $2 million in profits from his stock investments with Kinder-Morgan Energy. Jack Conway is betting against Kentucky coal and has a financial interest in hurting the industry.
It’s no surprise that Jack Conway supports Cap & Trade.
As the following news reports show, Conway made clear his support for this energy tax when he was campaigning against Daniel Mongiardo (Click for Larger Image):
Jack Conway has consistently shown his opposition to Kentucky coal. Click on the image below to read Jack’s letter to the EPA asking for increased regulation on the industry.
As Jack Conway works to phase out Kentucky Coal for his own personal profit, it is important to understand just how much regular citizens rely on this industry. FreedomKentucky outlines some of the disastrous impacts Cap and Trade would have on average Kentuckians:
Over 95 percent of Kentucky’s electricity comes from coal generated power plants. Kentucky is third in the nation in coal production, generating over $3 billion in sales and hundreds of millions in tax revenue. The Kentucky coal industry employs more than 15,000 people.
The “cap and trade” provision will not only devastate the coalfield communities in eastern and western Kentucky, it will destroy large segments of Kentucky’s manufacturing base, particularly energy intensive industries like steel and aluminum.
Kentucky currently produces 30 percent of our nation’s steel and aluminum. Together, these industries employ thousands of Kentuckians in communities like Ashland, Russellville, Sebree, Hawesville and Lewisport. The energy tax in the “cap and trade” provision will significantly increase the cost of producing steel and aluminum, putting our companies at a severe competitive disadvantage compared to their competitors in other countries.
High-end estimates suggest that Cap and Trade will cost the average Kentuckian an extra $1000 a year on their utility bills. This increase in cost may come to Kentuckians when they are already boiling over with the consequences of a weak economy and are least able to condone an attack on the Coal industry, the state’s backbone.
While a Cap and Trade battle in Congress may or may not materialize; the EPA has reported that they may consider going around Congress via regulatory statute in the Clean Air Act.
It is shameful that Jack Conway has supported this energy tax despite the devastating effect it would have on the people of Kentucky. This is a clear sign that Conway is interested in serving himself and not the citizens he is supposed to represent.
Opposing View – Rand Paul Supports Coal and Opposes Cap & Trade:
We need someone to stand up for Kentucky jobs, not a politician who sells out his hard working constituents in favor of pandering to the special interests and lobbyists writing this legislation. This Obama/Pelosi solution will only turn Kentucky’s unemployment problem into an unemployment catastrophe.
We need someone who isn’t going to install cap and trade to please Obama and take money from LG&E and BP.
Yeah, protection of Kentucky jobs is key. We need to turn back the clock on programs such as NAFTA and put the jobs back in the hands of good God fearing Kentuckians. Let’s let the Mexicans have their resturants and tobacco jobs and leave the rest for the citizens.
When half the people I know are unemployed, this is all the more frustrating.
Does Conway have no shame? Unemployment in double digits, and he wants to put more people out of work? Who really suffers from an “empathy gap” here?
I am just shocked that Conway isn’t bothered by this legislation. Has Jack Conway at least come out publicly to explain why he thinks this legislation is worth sacrificing the jobs of hard working folks throughout Kentucky? He needs to come clean about his positions. I just don’t see him being forthcoming in his campaign.
This Cap & Trade legislation is pure garbage, and just another way to get taxpayers in mid-western states to bail out “eco-friendly” states like California, which, by the way, have huge deficits thanks to so called clean energy.
I’m tired of this nonsense. Jack Conway is as dirty as the lawyers, lobbyists, and mega-corporations that are bankrolling him.
CAP AND TAX WILL KILL KY COAL!
Tell Jack Conway not to support this job killer!
What is Jack thinking! Kentucky relies on coal!
i dont expect kentucky to elect someone opposed to gun rights
CAP AND TRADE WILL KILL KY COAL
you’re letting me down jack
Not supporting Jack.
GOODBYE
ugh
get it through your head jack
CAP AND TRADE WILL HURT ALL OF US
people get it thru ya head that conway and obama want to kill coal!
NO ENERGY TAX