The Misadventures of Moscow Mitch: McGrath: McConnell Failed to Save Coal Jobs, Lied to Kentuckians

Calls on McConnell to Pass the RECLAIM Act, Put Miners First

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- As Sen. Mitch McConnell continues to fail Kentucky through the worst economic and health crisis of our lifetime, retired Marine Lt. Col. Amy McGrath called on McConnell to make right on his failed promises to Kentucky’s coal miners by committing to passing the RECLAIM Act and changing bankruptcy laws to put coal miners before Wall Street. 

McConnell continues to lie about McGrath and her support of out-of-work coal miners and those with Black Lung to cover up the fact he has allowed coal jobs in Kentucky to disappear while taking $946,563 from the coal mining industry over the course of his career. 

Coal jobs have declined a drastic 89% throughout McConnell’s 36-year tenure bathing in the Washington swamp. Despite promises during his last campaign to bring coal jobs back to Kentucky, Kentucky lost over 7,500 coal jobs, a decrease of 67%, in just six years. 

“There are real people behind the statistics of declining coal jobs, and my heart breaks for them and our coal communities that have lost reliable, good-paying jobs,” said McGrath. “All of us in the commonwealth deserve so much more than McConnell’s empty promises and falsehoods. If you work hard in this state, you should have a fair shot at a better future. In the Senate, I’ll make sure every Kentuckian, and especially those who’ve been left behind, have opportunities to succeed and provide for their families.” 

She said that McConnell can start to make up for his failed leadership by standing up for miners in Washington.

“McConnell used the miners as a political tool six years ago because it was convenient. Now that their job losses happened on his watch, he has walked away,” said McGrath. “He needs to get them help, first by passing the RECLAIM Act and then by changing bankruptcy laws to put workers before Wall Street.”

Last month, McGrath laid out her Partnering with Rural Kentucky Plan detailing how she will help coal communities and workers rebound from this crisis stronger than before.