The Republican Party of Kentucky released the following statement today from spokeswoman Kelsey Cooper in response to Alison Lundergan Grimes’ false new ad, which is a continuation of her lies to Kentuckians about coal:
“The fact that Alison Lundergan Grimes is attempting to shift the blame for the devastation of the coal industry in Kentucky away from Obama’s War On Coal is not only laughable but downright offensive and a clear showing of her steadfast allegiance to the Obama agenda and her status as Obama’s Kentucky candidate.”
BACKGROUND
No Record Of Grimes Caring About Coal Jobs Until She Ran For U.S. Senate
FactCheck.org: No Record Of Grimes Making Statements About Coal “Prior To Announcing Her Senate Candidacy.” “We couldn’t find any public statements from Grimes regarding coal prior to her announcing her Senate candidacy, nor did her campaign provide any when we asked.”(Robert Farley, “Correcting Kentucky Claim On Coal,” FactCheck.org, 6/9/14)
Grimes’ Attempts To Blame McConnell For Coal Job Losses Called “Untrue And Unfair”
Kentucky Coal Association President Bill Bissett: Inference McConnell Has Not Fought For Coal Jobs Is “Absolutely Untrue And Unfair.” “Grimes hasn’t publicly wavered from saying she is committed to protecting coal jobs, going as far as to try to turn the tables by pointing out that Kentucky’s massive job losses in the industry have happened on McConnell’s watch. Bissett said the inference that McConnell has not fought for those jobs is ‘absolutely untrue and unfair.’” (Sam Youngman, “With Release Of Power Plant Rules, Coal Rhetoric In Kentucky’s U.S. Senate Race To Reach Full Boil,”Lexington Herald Leader, 6/1/14)
Grimes And Her Allies Standing In The Way Of The Coal Country Protection Act
Grimes Supporter Harry Reid Blocked Senate Consideration Of McConnell’s Coal Country Protection Act – Which Would Halt Obama’s War On Coal. “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) blocked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) from passing his Coal Country Protection Act. McConnell asked unanimous consent to pass his bill, S. 2414, which would require the administration to meet bench marks before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implements a carbon reduction plan for power plants, but Reid objected.” (Ramsey Cox, “Reid Blocks McConnell’s Bill On EPA Rule,” The Hill, 6/4/14)
· With Reid And Democrats In Control Of The Senate, It’s Unlikely That There Will Be A Vote On The Bill. “McConnell’s bill would stop the administration from implementing the new rule until it can prove no jobs will be lost and that energy prices won’t increase. While Democrats control the Senate, it’s unlikely that his bill will receive a vote.” (Ramsey Cox, “Reid Blocks McConnell’s Bill On EPA Rule,” The Hill, 6/4/14)
WFPL’s Phillip M. Bailey: “Reid’s Maneuvering” To Block McConnell Coal Jobs Bill “Raises Further Questions About Whether Grimes Can Stand Up To The Democratic Leader While Relying On Him Politically To Unseat McConnell.” “The pro-coal message of Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes was complicated by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on Thursday, who blocked a bill introduced by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to ease federal regulations. Reid’s actions comes just days after Grimes called on the Obama administration to hold off on new environmental restrictions. … A coal industry leader had already raised doubts about Grimes being a more effective voice for Kentucky coal operators and miners than McConnell. But Reid’s maneuvering raises further questions about whether Grimes can stand up to the Democratic leader while relying on him politically to unseat McConnell.” (Phillip M. Bailey, “Senate Democrats Blocking Mitch McConnell’s Coal Bill Puts Alison Lundergan Grimes In Tough Spot,” WFPL News, 9/19/13)
Grimes Couldn’t Be Bothered To Bring Up Coal Jobs At Harry Reid Fundraiser
Grimes Appeared At A D.C. Fundraiser With Harry Reid In June 2014 “Just Three Days After The EPA Announced” New Emissions Regulations That Will Kill Coal Jobs. (Burgess Everett, “Grimes To Hold D.C. Fundraiser With Reid,” Politico, 6/2/14)
· Grimes Campaign Said She Would Share “Stories Of How Kentuckians Are Hurting” At The Reid Fundraiser Because She Was “Absolutely Livid” At The New EPA Rules. “On Thursday at the event with Reid, Grimes will share with donors her opposition to the sweeping coal proposal. ‘Alison is absolutely livid about the new rule and plans to use the event to share the stories of how Kentuckians are hurting and demand that the Senate take action to invest in clean coal technology,’ said Grimes spokeswoman Charly Norton.” (Burgess Everett, “Grimes To Hold D.C. Fundraiser With Reid,” Politico, 6/2/14)
Despite Promising To Defend Kentucky Coal, Grimes “Never Mentioned Coal During An 11-Minute Speech” At The Washington Fundraiser With Reid. “Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Alison Lundergan Grimes promised to defend Kentucky’s coal industry during a fundraiser with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last week, but she never mentioned coal during an 11-minute speech at the Washington, D.C., event, Politico reported Monday. In an audio recording of the speech obtained by Politico, Grimes instead criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s record on jobs, the minimum wage and women’s issues, prompting McConnell’s campaign to accuse Grimes of misleading Kentucky voters.” (Sam Youngman, “Grimes Didn’t Defend Coal During D.C. Speech As Promised, According To Report,” The Lexington Herald Leader, 6/9/14)
· CN|2: “After Assuring Kentuckians” She Would Use Reid Fundraiser “To Press The Issue Of Coal,” “Grimes Didn’t Bring The Issue Up Once.” “After assuring Kentuckians that she would use a fundraiser with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to press the issue of coal, attendees at the Washington event say Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes didn’t bring the issue up once.” (Jacqueline Pitts, “Fundraiser Attendees Dispute Grimes’ Claim Of Talking Coal With Harry Reid,” CN|2’s “Pure Politics” Blog, 6/9/14)
· The Lexington Herald-Leader Headline: “Grimes Didn’t Defend Coal During D.C. Speech As Promised, According To Report.”(Sam Youngman, “Grimes Didn’t Defend Coal During D.C. Speech As Promised, According To Report,” Lexington Herald-Leader, 6/9/14)
Grimes Supported By The President Of The Environmental Group That Helped Draft Obama Anti-Coal Jobs Regulations
Grimes Has Received A $1,000 Contribution From Frances Beinecke Elston, The President Of The Natural Resources Defense Council. “U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s campaign is calling out Alison Lundergan Grimes for accepting a $1,000 contribution from Frances Beinecke Elston, the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council.” (Joe Gerth, “Alison Grimes Accepted Contributions From Environmentalist,” Courier-Journal, 5/29/14)
· The White House Has Relied On Research By The NRDC “In Creating New Coal Regulations.” “The NRDC advocates for a cleaner environment including efforts to cut greenhouse gases, which a consensus of scientist agree is the root cause of climate change. Bloomberg news has reported that the White House has relied on research by the organization in creating new coal regulations scheduled to be introduced next week.” (Joe Gerth, “Alison Grimes Accepted Contributions From Environmentalist,” Courier-Journal, 5/29/14)
· “The NRDC’s Proposals Helped Shape The Obama Administration’s Plan.” “The NRDC’s proposals helped shape the Obama administration’s plan, which is scheduled to go out for public comment before becoming final next year.” (Sean Cockerham, “Kentucky’s Coal-Burning Power Plants Are Likely Targets Under Plan Obama To Announce Monday,” Lexington Herald-Leader, 5/29/14)
Grimes Campaign Doesn’t Believe There Is A War On Coal
Grimes Adviser Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY): “I Don’t Think There Is Any ‘War On Coal’ At All.” “The U.S. Senate Republican Leader’s concerns were echoed by most of Kentucky’s top Democrats, yet U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth defended the EPA. ‘I don’t think there is any “War on Coal” at all,’ Yarmuth told WHAS11. ‘What this is is a realization that the climate is changing, that carbon dioxide emissions have an impact on that, and that the largest source of carbon emissions is from coal-fired power plants.’” (Joe Arnold, “McConnell: EPA Rules ‘Worst Blow To KY. Economy In Modern Times,’”WHAS11, 6/2/14)
