As the days count down until November 5 coal miners are working their way into gubernatorial campaigns.
A video released by The People’s Campaign, a left leaning political action and issue advocacy organization, urges coal miners to vote for Democrat Andy Beshear.
“I’m here to tell you that Kentucky coal miners deserve better than Bevin,” Bill Londrigan, President AFL-CIO President says in the Twitter video. “Over the last 50 years, tens of thousands of Kentucky miners have died from black lung disease, and last year it was reported that the rate of black lung disease hit a 25 year high, but in response Matt Bevin signed a law that prevents a federally certified doctor from making a diagnosis.”
The legislation Londrigan is referring to is part of a larger 2018 worker’s compensation bill that required if a coal miner files black lung claim with the state, only a federally licensed pulmonologist can make a diagnosis, previously radiologists were able to make a diagnosis.
The ad goes on to place blame on the Bevin administration for the month’s long standoff between Blackjewel miners and their bankrupt employer.
“There’s no excuse for what happened in Harlan County,” Londrigan says. “Come to find out that every coal company that was formed since Bevin was in office failed to post a bond to protect miners’ wages—just like Blackjewel.”
While that is true, several coal companies formed under former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration also failed to secure bonds from coal companies.
The miners in Harlan County finally did receive their paychecks from Blackjewel after attorneys were able to reach an agreement with the bankrupt the company—but the standoff lasted from August until October.
A new coalition has formed in support of Matt Bevin—called Coal Miners for Bevin Coalition. A release sent Monday from the campaign says voting for Andy Beshear would detrimental to the coal industry.
“Kentucky coal miners see a clear contrast between Andy Beshear, a two-time Hillary Clinton voter with a liberal economic agenda that would decimate Kentucky coal, and Governor Matt Bevin, who will continue to work with President Trump to secure the future of Kentucky coal and make it part of an all-of-the-above strategy for energy,” a statement from the coalition reads.
The coalition is chaired by Webster County Judge-Executive Steve Henry and B. Kevin Hall in Pike County.
Bevin promised to protect coal if granted another four-years.
“As Governor, I will continue to work with President Trump to protect our coal mining heritage and put an end to anti-coal agendas that have damaged the economy of our state," he said in a release.
Neither Andy Beshear nor Matt Bevin won Eastern Kentucky in the primary election where many coal mines are located so it could play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the election. A Mason-Dixon poll showed Bevin leading the area over Beshear. The same poll had Bevin leading in Western Kentucky as well, where more coal mines sit, however, Beshear's family is from Western Kentucky and his father, Steve Beshear still has a lot of support in the region.