Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addressed the Senate floor today, criticizing recent climate policies introduced by the Biden Administration.

"Last Thursday, the Biden Administration announced its plan to sacrifice yet another source of affordable, reliable American energy on the altar of climate activism," McConnell stated. He referred to a new ban on coal leasing in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana as part of these policies.

"This region is responsible for producing nearly half of the nation’s coal. Last year alone, the basin generated more than 250 million tons of coal and employs more than 4,000 people," he noted. "Shutting off development will result in lost jobs and millions of dollars of lost revenue for the states of Wyoming and Montana."

McConnell emphasized that Kentucky has also been affected by similar policies, saying, "The sting of the Administration’s War on Coal is one Kentuckians know all too well." He linked these developments to broader economic issues: "Energy prices alone have risen more than 40% since President Biden took office."

He pointed out that there is growing bipartisan resistance to these measures within the Senate. "Washington Democrats’ radicalism may have finally stretched their own party to a breaking point," McConnell asserted.

Citing a recent legislative action, he said, "Just yesterday, a bipartisan majority passed Senator Cruz’s resolution disapproving of the Department of Energy’s new rule to effectively ban affordable natural gas home furnaces." According to McConnell, this rule would increase efficiency standards and essentially prohibit more affordable heating options.

"By one estimate, this rule will heap as much as $4 billion dollars in new costs onto consumers who already can’t afford the high-cost Biden economy," he claimed.

In conclusion, McConnell remarked on public sentiment: "The American people have suffered enough from Bidenomics to the Green New Deal. I’m glad a majority of the Senate agrees it’s time to slam the brakes on the Administration’s assault on gas appliances. And I’m thankful to my colleague Senator Cruz for bringing attention to this madness."