Governor Strickland says he won’t cozy up to coal interests

[Kolesar]

Companies must pay for cleanups, he says
Monday, December 11, 2006
Spencer Hunt
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/11/20061211-A1-04.html

Ohio’s troubles with coal mines could become a big headache for the state’s next governor, Ted Strickland.

When Strickland takes office next month, he might have to deal with a threatened federal takeover of Ohio’s coal programs.

But the governor-elect says that if Ohio needs to raise more money to clean up bankrupt mines, he will present coal companies with the bill.

"I think the coal operators should bear the burden," he said.

An advocacy group says it will be watching to make sure he does, and it questions whether campaign donations from coal and power companies will affect Strickland’s coal policy.

These industries donated more than $110,000 to Strickland’s 2006 campaign, says the watchdog group.

"This looks like a weakness," said Catherine Turcer, of Ohio Citizen Action. "We’re holding his feet to the fire, so to speak."

...snip...

Ohio Citizen Action analyzed $13.6 million in donations Strickland reported from January 2005 through Sept. 30 and found that he received $35,300 from coal-company executives and employees.

An additional $75,710 was donated by Ohio power-company workers and lawyers in firms representing those companies.

The group’s analysis of Strickland’s Republican opponent, J. Kenneth Blackwell, showed that he received $41,999 from coal companies and $24,821 from electricity companies.

Mining and power companies donated a total of $159,606 to Strickland’s past five congressional bids, said Dwight L. Morris and Associates, a nonpartisan provider of campaignfinance information hired by The Dispatch. Those campaigns collected a total of $3.6 million from all donors.

Strickland said he supports ideas that would help Ohio’s coal industry grow and add jobs. He said coal companies also must ensure that streams are protected and that mined lands are repaired.

...with all this to talk about, there is no mention of carbon dioxide emissions...

[cmd]

1. That's a plus

but no one will ever be able to restore the environment ruined by coal.
Reclaimed fields are bland and boring.

[Lerkfish]

2. wow, holding a politician's feet to the fire...must be a democratic politician

no one ever hold a republican's feet to the fire over any issue.

[Deep13]

3. Yup, won in a landslide victory too. Something like 2 to 1.

http://www.tedstrickland.com/content/26/about-ted-strickland

[Kolesar]

4. Strickland is going to advocate for more coal mines and more coal plants that Ohio does not need

Strickland managed to get into office without having to address tough questions like these. To look at his funders, I just know how he is going to proceed.

[phantom power]

5. Let me guess. It will be "clean coal."

[Kolesar]

6. Catchy term, there. Would you like a few $million in funding to go with it?

(there is some sarcasm in this post)