MINERS NEWS - National & International news from the hard rock, coal, heavy equipment, aggregates & mining industries

PICKING A PRO-MINING PRESIDENT

Commentary by Harold Hough Aug/Sept 2008

At first glance, picking the pro-mining presidential candidate should be an easy one; John McCain is a senator is from the largest mining state in the United States and the Barack Obama is a liberal who talks about decreasing America’s carbon footprint. However, the choice can be confusing if one only looks at statements in the newspaper.

Although McCain has a long legislative history of backing America’s mining industry, his talk about global warming concerns a lot of coal mining people. On the other hand, Obama is opposed to the Hard Rock Mining bill that came out of the House last year and was opposed by the mining industry. So, who do you pick?

In an election year, it pays to look at motives and legislative history. Obama’s comments about the 1872 Mining Law came in a teleconference with Nevada reporters. Since Nevada’s gold mining industry is one of the largest in the world, it’s no wonder that he sounded pro-mining. Then, there is the fact that his Nevada campaign advisor, Billy Vassiilliadis is a state lobbyist for the mining industry and Nevada’s senior senator, Harry Reid is pro-mining.

But Obama’s opposition to the House mining reform bill has political roots. The electoral map is nearly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans and if Obama wants to win in November, he has to pick up some states that went for Bush in 2004. Since polling in Nevada and Colorado show McCain and Obama nearly tied, it makes political sense to come out with pro-mining statements that can win some votes in these two mining states.

However, Obama’s pro-mining statements in the recent past are overshadowed by his anti-mining record. His votes in the Senate have opposed shale oil and oil sands development. He opposes open pit mining. He has publicly stated his opposition to a coal mine in Canada. He is a cosponsor of the strongest climate bill in the Senate, the Boxer-Sanders Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, which would reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent. And, if that doesn’t make it clear enough, his website factcheck.barackobama.com brags that he only got a 25% rating from the National Mining Association in 2005.

One major concern about Obama is his stand on environmental health. Obama has a strong legislative record for pushing for lower levels of mercury, arsenic, and lead in the environment. Since environmental health issues are often decided at government agencies by political appointees instead of Congress, the mining industry will be threatened by unelected regulators who can cripple the industry with onerous and expensive regulations.

MCCAIN

Let’s face it; McCain has aggravated a lot of conservative Republicans with his statements. And, he has taken several “environmental” stands like not drilling in ANWR, global warming, etc. that have raised the hackles of the mining industry. But, the question is, “Is he pro-mining?”

The reality is that McCain has a better voting record than his rhetoric indicates. The National Mining Association ratings of senators in the 110^{th
Congress gave Senator McCain a 100% rating. Obama got a 16% rating.}

Another way to judge the candidates is how they rate with anti-mining environmentalists. The League of Conservation Voters, which is anti-mining, gave McCain a 0% rating in 2007 and a 24% lifetime rating. Obama received an 86% lifetime rating. Debbie Sease, Legislative Director of the Sierra Club called McCain a, “Doctrinaire Conservative,” who got credit only for protecting Arizona’s scenic vistas.

Probably, the best indication of where McCain and Obama stand on mining is philosophical. While McCain believes in capitalism, private property, and minimum government interference, Obama is a critic of free markets, an opponent of property rights, and an advocate of government regulation of markets. To put it another way, do you want an Obama Supreme Court justice or a McCain Supreme Court justice ruling on mining cases?

So, who is the best choice? Obama talks a good game, but talk is cheap and he has made it clear to his supporters that he is anti-mining. He may not push anti-mining legislation from the White House, but you can be sure that his appointees will be committed to hamstringing the mining industry. McCain, on the other hand, may not give us everything we want, but has a better history of supporting the mining industry.