John Yarmuth

King Coal claims "Chandler and Yarmuth Actively Support Destroying Kentucky Coal Jobs"

April 21, 2011

Phil Osborne, executive director of Kentucky FACES of Coal — and the organizing power behind Jim Newberry’s new media empire — lashed out late this afternoon at Congressman Awesome and Congressman Notsoawesome:

KY Congressmen support legislation designed to obliterate surface mining

Congressmen Ben Chandler and John Yarmuth of Kentucky have both signed on as supporters of the Clean Water Protection Act introduced by Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Dave Reichert (R-WA). The legislation as written would destroy Kentucky coal jobs and bring to an end surface mining operations throughout Eastern and Western Kentucky.
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“The sweeping effects proposed in Pallone’s Bill would seriously damage Kentucky coal jobs and Kentucky’s economy….” said Phil Osborne, Executive Director of Kentucky FACES of Coal. “Kentucky needs jobs; we don’t need our congressman supporting legislation that destroys jobs.”
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“This legislation is bad for the country and bad for Kentucky, it’s distressing when two of our elected Members of Congress choose to ignore that fact,” Osborne continued. “Legislation like this is wrong in spirit, it’s wrong in science and it’s wrong for Kentucky. Given his ultra liberal, anti-job stance on most issues I’m not terribly shocked by Mr. Yarmuth’s support of the Bill but I really thought Cong. Chandler knew better or cared more.”

Ouch!

Pallone’s press release is here if you want to subject yourself to dirty lies and bunk science, like:

Numerous health problems associated with exposure to these chemicals and heavy metals in fill material include cancer, organ failure and learning disabilities.

Just disgusting, isn’t it?

It will be interesting to see how this seething broadside by Mr. Osborne and King Coal will affect Chandler’s recent spate of anti-environment, pro-Coal votes.

The RNC is already targeting Chandler’s seat for 2012 so Chandler’s been confounding all observers in a bizarre attempt to cover his bases, railing on about “this out of control EPA” and their crazy idea that coal ash is somehow “toxic,” among other things [seen here, here, here, here, and here to name a few].

In the process, he’s obviously alienated Democratic rank-and-file and now he’s managed to also enrage the Coal lobby.

With Chandler’s support for this bill and his recent votes to protect Planned Parenthood and Health Care reform, you can’t blame Osborne or yourself for wondering if, in fact, Ben Chandler does know better and care more.

So is Ben turning a new leaf or is King Coal just giving him a friendly slap on the wrist? Or is he plotting a course toward a Mitch throwdown?

John Yarmuth on MSNBC this morning (VIDEO)

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April 21, 2011

By Joe Sonka

Congressman Awesome:

Ben Chandler was asked for comment from under the desk in his office. He continues to have no comment.

Ryan budget passes House with zero Democratic votes

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April 15, 2011

By Joe Sonka

And 4 Republicans defecting. Once more, let me emphasize that this likely means 2012 is going to be a GREAT year for Democrats. I don’t know if Speaker Pelosi is going to take back the gavel, but the Paul Ryan budget is absolute political poison.

If you didn’t catch John Yarmuth’s speech earlier, here it is below, along with some figures his office put out on how the dead-in-the-water budget would affect Louisville:

Result in 1.7 million fewer jobs by 2014, according to John Zandi – economist and former advisor to Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
Eliminate nearly 8,000 transportation jobs in Kentucky.
Slash college aid for more than 25,000 students in Louisville alone.
Eliminate Medicare as we know it, and increase out-of-pocket costs for seniors an average of $6,000 more per year.
Closes 16,000 Head Start classrooms and kicks 218,000 children off the program
Cuts more than $120 billion used to feed hungry families

All while…

Protecting billions in subsidies for big oil companies.
Cutting taxes even further for the wealthiest 1% of Americans

Oh, and Ben Chandler got out from under his desk to vote no. He’s still a shaky for his the scare he got earlier today, but he’s hanging in their like a trooper.

John Yarmuth being Awesome on the House floor

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April 15, 2011

By Joe Sonka

This is why he’s called Congressman Awesome:

Meanwhile, Quiet Ben Chandler thought he heard footsteps coming from outside of his office and leaped under his desk, where he’s remained for the last 3 hours, shaking nervously in the fetal position. Developing…

John Yarmuth on medical research funding

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April 14, 2011

By Joe Sonka

Yarmy visited Walter Reed recently and had this to say on the House floor:

Congressman Yarmuth takes to YouTube to explain Government Shutdown

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April 8, 2011

By David M. F. Schankula

His Awesomeness takes the time to clearly explain how we got here and what it means now… and how the Republicans reckless cuts are at odds with their reckless defense of Big Business, Big Banks, and the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

If you were wondering why you have to stare at a Cardinal to get your information, Ben Chandler was too busy to record a video (or he was trying to maintain his reputation as the quietest Congressman on Capital Hill) so instead he instructed his long suffering staff to put together this fact sheet.

John Yarmuth on CSPAN’s Washington Journal

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April 8, 2011

By Joe Sonka

While John Yarmuth took a barrage of questions for 20 minutes on live national television about the budget, we must also remember that Ben Chandler sent out a fundraising email yesterday saying that killing Medicare is bad. So there’s that.

Yarmuth re-introduces Clean Water Protection Act

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April 6, 2011

By Joe Sonka

Rep. John Yarmuth re-introduced the Clean Water Protection Act yesterday, which would effectively end the horror that is mountaintop removal mining. Here’s some of the press release from Frank Pallone of NJ, a fellow lead sponsor of the legislation:

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) along with Congressman David Reichert (R-WA) and Congressman John Yarmuth (D-KY) Tuesday reintroduced the Clean Water Protection Act, legislation with bipartisan support that would prevent industrial mining waste from entering the water supply and harming human and environmental health.

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The legislation will redefine “fill material” to exclude mining waste materials and will clarify environmental law to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters.

Mountaintop removal is a mining method where the top of a mountain is blown off to extract thin seams of coal. It permanently destroys streams, forests and mountains. The broken rock, or “excess spoil” from this process is usually dumped into nearby valleys, creating “valley fills” that cover thousands of acres of land and bury thousands of miles of streams.

Numerous health problems associated with exposure to these chemicals and heavy metals in fill material include cancer, organ failure and learning disabilities.

In January, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a decision to halt proposed disposal of mountaintop mining waste into West Virginia streams by Mingo-Logan Coal Company’s Spruce Mine No. 1 located in the south west region of West Virginia. Exercising this authority demonstrates the agency’s willingness to enforce tough regulations such as those proposed in the Clean Water Protection Act.

Yarmuth was also recognized as a “Defender of the Mountains” by Appalachian Voices in a ceremony yesterday.

Get your awesome off our backs!