This news story originally provided by The Charleston Gazette

April 1, 2005

Pension bond pushed at coal rally

By Scott Finn
Staff writer

Gov. Joe Manchin and House Speaker Bob Kiss told several hundred people at a Friends of Coal rally Thursday at the state Capitol that they should vote for a constitutional amendment in June that allows the state to sell bonds to refinance the state’s $5.5 billion pension debt.

“On June 25, please help pass a bond to refinance the state’s existing pension debt and save the state $1 billion over 30 years,” Manchin said.

Manchin did not speak about any specific bills relating to coal. He introduced himself by saying, “My name is Joe Manchin and I’m a friend of coal.” Later, he said, “You do have a friend ... friends who want you to do well.”

House Speaker Bob Kiss, D-Raleigh, also stood up to support the coal industry. He also asked for support for the plan to refinance the pension debt.

“This is not about incurring new debts,” Kiss said. “What is the most intelligent way and cheapest way to pay off the debts?”

The amendment would allow the state to borrow money and invest it, which is expected to generate returns that lower the state’s debts.

If the amendment fails, lawmakers will have to set aside $600 million a year for pension costs, Kiss said. If it passes, that bill would be lowered to $350 million a year.

An estimated 300 to 500 people attended the annual Friends of Coal rally. Shortly after that rally ended, about 40 people attended an anti-mountaintop removal rally to kick off a summer of nonviolent protest of the mining practice. EarthFirst!, a national environmental group, is planning a four-month campaign called “Mountain Justice Summer.”

Elaine Purkey, a Southern West Virginia singer, entertained the environmental group. She dedicated a pro-union song to any coal miners in the crowd. Not all miners are comfortable with mountaintop removal, she said.

“My husband is a third-generation coal miner,” she said. “He doesn’t agree with this garbage, either.”

Secretary of State Betty Ireland also spoke at the FOC rally, as did former Marshall football coach Bob Pruett. Pruett, a Raleigh County native and paid FOC spokesman, said coal mining played a big role in his life. He said his father died of black lung; his father-in-law died in a slate fall.

He said a recent drive to Gilbert to talk to a group of Christian athletes reminded him of all the good things the coal industry has done for Southern West Virginia.

“I truly do understand what coal has done for us in the past,” Pruett said.

Chris Hamilton, vice president of the state Coal Association, named several politicians who won election or re-election in November that he considered friends of coal: Kiss, Manchin, Ireland, President Bush, Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin, and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. Hamilton singled out Ken Hechler, whom Ireland defeated, as a nemesis of coal mining.

To contact staff writer Scott Finn use e-mail or call 357-4323.