Political Quotes

“first of all, I thank Senator Casey because he comes from the same coal mining regions that I come from and the hard-working families and communities they have there. It is unbelievable the commitment and dedication these people have had their entire life and the patriotism they have. Most of them have served. Most of them have been there. Most of them will always be there. In 1946, this promise was consummated by Congress and the President of the United States, and all they have said, up until that time there--my grandfather and all my family members working the mines--they had nothing. So if you ever heard that song, ``I owe my soul to the company store,'' they really did. There was never any money that transferred. They had scrip, and by the time they buy everything from the company store, their pay basically was eaten up. There was nothing left. In 1946, they said there has got to be more, and that is when it came in. Truman was determined not to let this country fall into a recession or a depression after the war by keeping the mines working because we needed the energy for that. They have produced this energy in a patriotic way every time. If we can't even keep our promise to them through an act of Congress, then God help us all. That is what we are here to ask for. We implore all of our friends--the Senator from Wyoming is here now, and he comes from a coal mining region.…”