Senator Mitch McConnell recently joined Kentucky’s battle to defend coal miner jobs and keep energy prices affordable in the Bluegrass State. Speaking out against sweeping new Environmental Protection Agency regulations known as Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT), Senator McConnell stated:

"This regulation threatens the availability of reliable electricity to the American public, costs the taxpayer over $10 billion dollars each year, significantly increases electricity prices, and will result in the loss of tens of thousands of American jobs…The coal industry is essential to Kentucky’s economy and many regions of our country—without it American jobs will be lost and energy prices will increase.”

Thankfully for states like Kentucky – which relies on coal for more than 90% of its electricity production - the Congressional Review Act enables Congress to expedite the process of passing new legislation to turn over Utility MACT regulations. This is but one of the many grievances the states have brought against the unilateral sanctions of the EPA, and Senator McConnell realizes these sanctions take aim at Kentucky coal in particular:

"Don’t be mistaken, Kentucky is at the center of the Administration’s bulls eye and this rule takes direct aim at Kentucky’s thriving industries. It threatens the jobs of over 1,400 Kentuckians working in aluminum smelter plants as well as Kentucky’s approximately 18,000 coal miners, and not to mention the industries that support them.  At a time when many Kentucky families are already making tough financial decisions, we must rein in the Obama EPA and their continued assault on Kentucky jobs and their families.”