Late last year, U.S. Representative Rob Bishop voted in favor of H.R. 2273, a law that prevents regulations to protect American communities from toxic pollutants contained in coal ash from being implemented. Three days from now, the coal industry is giving Rob Bishop his reward.

A large amount of toxic coal ash containing heavy metals fell into Lake Michigan, fouling the waters that serve as a public resource for Gwen Moore’s constituents. So, what is Gwen Moore telling the voters of Wisconsin’s 4th district tonight about why she voted to prevent tough standards for coal ash disposal from going into effect?

It just so happens that, on the very same day that Mark Valente gave money to Michael Conaway’s re-election campaign, the Director of Administration for Valente and Associates also gave exactly the same amount of money to Conaway.

U.S. representatives who voted in favor of the Coal Residuals Reusal and Management Act took, on average, more than twice as much money from electrical utilities than representative who voted against the bill. Coal money was even more strongly correlated with the vote. Representatives who voted to approve H.R. 2273 took, on average, seven times as much money from coal mining companies.

Thanks for American Electric Power and and FirstEnergy, the State of Ohio has more coal-fired generating capacity than any other state in the nation. Ohio’s electric sector also has the ignominious honor of ranking FIRST in the amount of toxic air pollution it emitted in 2009, emitting more than 44.5 million pounds of harmful chemicals, which accounted for 65% of the state’s pollution and 12% of toxic pollution from all U.S. power plants.

H.R. 1868 would force businesses to create fuel with coal gunk added to it, and give Americans no alternative, and Larry Bucshon supports it, even though he claims to hate intrusive government regulations.

Fossil fuels money already flows thick for Sandy Adams, and her first term in office isn’t yet even four months old. It would be downright unprofitable for Representative Adams to take a stand against the economic interests of the dirty energy industry.

Democrats may be discontent with Congressman Austria’s opposition to green energy policies, but as they look at Bill Conner’s embrace of energy industry arguments defending old fossil fuel technologies, they aren’t likely to see enough reason to donate their money to support the Conner for Congress campaign.

John Raese’s insinuation that global warming science is all just a big hoax will work, if West Virginia voters don’t bother to educate themselves about the issue in any detail. Raese’s Senate campaign has placed its bet firmly in favor of the ignorance of the West Virginia electorate.

Mountaintop removal coal mining supporter Rand Paul suggests that Kentuckians might enjoy seeing parts of their landscape look more like Iowa.