Obama & Reid & White House Oppose Federal Mining Reform Bill

[Karmadillo]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ioUhzAHHKp2H_5Uys87YBdfauzwAD8SOIK8O0

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama opposes a federal mining reform bill because he says it would be too burdensome on the industry and could end up costing miners jobs in Nevada and other states.

The Illinois senator said Tuesday that he favors efforts to update an 1872 mining law and will work with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to find a compromise between environmental protection and a healthy mining industry.

Environmentalists support the bill the House passed last week, 244-166. Reid, a gold miner's son and longtime supporter of the industry, has said the House bill "won't stand" in the Senate. The White House also has threatened a veto.

Obama said he specifically opposes parts of the bill that would impose royalties of 4 percent of gross revenue on existing hard-rock mining operations and royalties of 8 percent of gross revenue on new mining operations.

"What is clear to me is that the legislation that has been proposed places a significant burden on the mining industry and could have a significant impact on jobs," Obama said during a teleconference with reporters in Nevada.

more...

[Me.]

1. Well Yes

Why don't we use up all our resources and line their pockets for free?

[williesgirl]

2. Reid simply has to go and NOW. rec'd

[goodgd_yall]

3. Hmmm...after the mountain states' votes now, are we?

[aquart]

4. Ya think?

[Bitwit1234]

5. Sure Obama doesn't support it..he sat the vote out the first time.

Notice..he does that quite a lot...he waits til he gets the way the wind blows before he votes.

[Karmadillo]

6. He said he wanted to work with Republicans. Here's an example. Maybe in return the Republicans

will give him some votes for Liquid Coal.

[Major Hogwash]

7. Somebody should tell Obama that this isn't about jobs - and tell him tomorrow!

This is about the large corporations raping our land.

The few miners left out here in the West can always get jobs flipping hamburgers - just like the rest of us will wind up doing if Hillary gets into office.

Those royalties haven't changed in 135 years - what other industry has ever had that kind of protection?

NONE!

[CyberPieHole]

8. Obama on the wrong side of an issue?

Say it isn't so.:evilgrin:

[cuke]

9. Ahh, some more of that Obama style "liberalism"

I can just feel the hope (of mining executives)

[ClarkUSA]

10. Crap AP article. Here's the WHOLE story from The Las Vegas Review-Journal...

Sorry to interrupt the cackling, but Obama cares about jobs and workers vis à vis the mining industry and wants a much more
comphrehensive mining reform plan that includes improved access to health care, among other things:

"The legislation that has been proposed places a significant burden on the mining industry and could have a significant impact
on jobs (in rural Nevada) given the difficulties the industry is already facing in maintaining its operations," Obama said during
a conference call with Nevada reporters discussing his platform for rural Nevada.

Of the detailed, 11-page package of proposals, Obama stressed shoring up the mining industry, improving rural residents'
access to health care and fighting "the scourge of methamphetamine."

The plan also includes supporting the state's right to regulate gaming, keeping Lake Tahoe blue, fighting wildfires, protecting
ranchers and opposing the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

On guns, the plan states, "Obama believes that we can protect the rights of hunters and other lawful gun owners while still
working to reduce gun violence."

Environmental groups support the legislation, but rural Nevada, which depends heavily on gold mining for its economic base,
is deeply jittery about it. Obama said he will join Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in seeking legislation to update
the old law but also "provide greater business certainty for the mining industry and the communities that depend on it."

Compromise legislation should include "fair" compensation for use of federal lands and should ensure that abandoned mine
sites get cleaned up, Obama said....Asked about using bonds to make sure mine-site cleanup is done, Obama said, "I think
that it's important for mining operators to be responsible stewards of the land. I am not wedded to bonds as the only way
to ensure that that happens, but I think it's important that mining operators aren't able to simply engage in practices that
over time can devastate surrounding communities."

Nevada has the world's fourth largest gold-mining economy, after South Africa, Australia and China.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/11077406.html