WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — There was very little political sparring at a forum on the U.S. Senate race Thursday at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s business summit. Both Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Secretary of State Natalie Tennant mainly focused on their already stated campaign themes.
Both focused some comments on the federal EPA and the situation with West Virginia coal. Capito said the uncertainty in Washington is the problem.
“Businesses like yours need certainty in order to plan for the future. You need to know the rules of the road and have confidence that unelected bureaucrats in Washington won’t suddenly change things,” Capito said.
Tennant, in asking for the support of those in the large crowd, urged business leaders to review her job and energy plans. She said efforts need to concentrate on advancing clean coal technology. She said there’s $8 billion in a federal loan program for clean coal that’s just sitting there.
“Instead of letting this money go to waste we should be investing in it directly and it wouldn’t cost taxpayers an extra dime,” she said. “So make no mistake, we can afford to make advanced coal technology a reality, we can’t afford not to.”
Tennant said the upcoming election is not about the White House, President Obama or Sen. Harry Reid but it’s about West Virginia and that will be her top priority.
“It’s not enough for us to continue to say ‘no’ to the EPA and ‘no’ to the President and that’s why we take a look at my coal and energy jobs agenda—because we have to have solutions, we have to have answers,” Tennant said.
The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Congresswoman Capito during her seven congressional elections and she asked members for their support again.
“I can and will provide that certainty that’s missing,” Capito said. “You will not have to guess or hope where I will be on any issue.”
The business summit will shift its focus on the First and Second District congressional races Friday.