Subject: After Disgraced Ex-Massey CEO Receives Light Sentence for Role in Miner Tragedy, Clinton Vows Push to Toughen Penalties
From: Hillary for America Press <[email-masked]>
To: Hillary for America Press <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 3 May 2016 17:20:02 -0400
List-Id: <nationalpress2016.hillaryclinton.com>

*After Disgraced Ex-Massey CEO Receives Light Sentence for Role in Miner
Tragedy, Clinton Vows Push to Toughen Penalties*

A day after the convicted ex-CEO of the Massey Energy Company protested
Hillary Clinton’s appearance in West Virginia’s coal country, her campaign
said Tuesday it was proud not to receive his support. And Clinton herself
vowed to toughen laws that limited Don Blankenship’s sentence for his role
in a tragedy that led to 29 coal miner deaths to just one year in prison.

“It was a pretty outrageous sight to see Don Blankenship, of all people,
apparently rallying against Hillary Clinton’s plans and commitment to help
our coal communities,” said Talley Sergent, Hillary for West Virginia State
Director. “As President, Hillary Clinton will prioritize federal
legislation to make sure the likes of Don Blankenship can never again get
away with showing such blatant disregard for our miners and their safety.
Our campaign is proud not to have Don Blankenship’s endorsement. If Donald
Trump wants to accept his support, then he owes a serious explanation to
the families of our miners we lost at Upper Big Branch and the people of
West Virginia.”

Yesterday, in West Virginia, Clinton met with mine workers as a part of a
two-day tour through hard-hit areas of Appalachia. Clinton heard directly
from miners seeking new job opportunities, as well as those who have
retired and simply seek the health and retirement benefits promised to them
during their careers. During the meeting, Clinton affirmed her commitment
not to make promises she cannot keep but to fight for them and their
families as president every day, even if they do not support her in this
year’s election.

As Clinton discussed the future of coalfield communities with miners and
other community members, she was met with some expected protests, much of
it from vocal supporters of Donald Trump. One of those protesting, according
to the Charleston Gazette-Mail
<https://twitter.com/Kenwardjr/status/727284269811404801>, was Blankenship.
Prosecutors charged and convicted Blankenship for conspiracy to violate the
Mine Safety and Health Act. However, Blankenship received only one year in
jail
<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/opinion/for-29-dead-miners-no-justice.html>
because violations of the Mine Safety Act are only misdemeanors. The same
is true for the Occupational Safety and Health Act
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/opinion/27uhlmann.html>, where willful
violations that cause death only authorize misdemeanor charges.

In an interview on MSNBC today with Andrea Mitchell, Clinton called
Blankenship’s one-year sentence “an outrage,” saying, “I think that we need
to look at those laws because they have to have a deterrent effect. We also
have to take a hard look at these coal companies that, because of the
effect of the in global demand, are taking bankruptcy and in the course of
their bankruptcy they’re trying to shed their responsibilities for health
and pensions for people who have basically planned their lives,
particularly their retirement, on being able to count on that pension. Our
bankruptcy laws need to once again be looked at, because we’re not taking
into account the years of labor and commitment that people like coal miners
and other workers have made. So I’m going to take a hard look at this
because I think people should be held accountable. And that includes those
who clearly cost the lives of American coal miners.”

As president, Clinton will work with Congress to update safety laws by
stiffening the penalties for violations of the Mine Safety and Health Act
and the Occupational Safety and Health Act so that they are felonies that
carry the possibility of serious jail time.

Clinton also remains committed to revitalizing coal communities and
standing up for retired miners as president. Among other proposals, her plan
<https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/factsheets/2015/11/12/clinton-plan-to-revitalize-coal-communities/>
would put in place a federal backstop that ensures retirees get the
benefits they have earned and deserve, building on the bipartisan
leadership of Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito of West
Virginia, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and will
expand these protections to any power plant or transportation company
retiree who loses his or her benefits due to a coal market-related
bankruptcy.

###

For Immediate Release, May 3, 2016

Contact: [email-masked]

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