Herald Dispatch - Works Plan Protects Coal, Jobs and Families

Op-Ed

By Shelley Moore Capito

This is one of a series of columns written by candidates seeking office in the Nov. 4 general election.

For generations, West Virginia families have passed down a deep sense of pride in our state and in the West Virginia values we all cherish. This country was built on the backs of hard-working West Virginians, and we know our state also holds the key to America's future. Our natural resources are abundant, our people are strong and our deep-rooted pride fires us to fight for a West Virginia that is prosperous and full of opportunities.

Recently, West Virginia has been under attack by President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and their anti-coal allies. They have declared West Virginia a loser in their War on Coal. They have cast our people aside with their job-killing regulations and ObamaCare mandates. They have failed our veterans, students and families.

I have fought back against these assaults on our state with dozens of jobs bills that are being blocked in the U.S. Senate because of Obama and Harry Reid's gridlock. These measures would protect coal, grow energy jobs, create new economic opportunities, expand our infrastructure, improve our education system, care for our veterans and make life better for families -- the only thing stopping them is Harry Reid. This November, we have a chance to change things.

I am running for Senate to put a stop to the war on West Virginia's way of life, and I have a plan for bringing much-needed relief to our state. My West Virginia Works plan contains six points that will put our state on a path toward more jobs and a stronger future by tapping our natural resources and our talent, and removing the barriers to success created by Washington liberals.

First, we must power a West Virginia that works by changing the leadership in the Senate, firing Harry Reid and stopping Obama's War on Coal. In a Republican-controlled Senate, we will have tremendous opportunities with both coal and natural gas to fuel an economic resurgence in our state and country. However, in a Democratic-controlled Senate, Harry Reid remains in charge and the War on Coal continues killing West Virginia jobs.

We must also create opportunities by allowing small businesses to grow. More than half of our state's private sector workers are employed at small businesses, yet ObamaCare, taxes and regulations are leading to fewer opportunities. I will continue to fight against ObamaCare, burdensome red tape and tax increases so job creators can put more people to work.

In order to grow jobs we must build a foundation for a West Virginia that works by investing in infrastructure to safely move people and goods. I fought for funding for U.S. Route 35, Corridor H, and Route 9. Still, more needs to be done. By unleashing West Virginia energy and encouraging U.S. companies to invest here instead of overseas, we will have the funds necessary to update our roads, bridges and waterways which will in turn create good jobs.

Preparing our workforce is another critical key in my West Virginia Works Plan. We should empower students by giving them access to better information on financial aid and opportunities offered by universities, community colleges and trade schools.

We must also honor West Virginians who worked to protect our freedom. Veterans are the ultimate West Virginia Workers, and we must ensure they receive the care and respect they deserve.

Finally, we must support strong families for a West Virginia that works. I have fought to keep taxes low so that families can keep the money they earn, and I have worked to ease the burdens working families face in caring for young children or elderly loved ones. We must continue to fight for policies that strengthen families and strengthen our state.

My West Virginia Works Plan harnesses our resources, our people and our pride to grow a West Virginia that is even better than the great state we inherited from the generations before us. West Virginians deserve a Senator they can trust to stand up to President Obama, Harry Reid and anyone else who wants to cast our state aside. I am ready to take my plan to the Senate and fight for West Virginia every single day.

Shelley Moore Capito, currently U.S. representative from West Virginia's Second Congressional District, is Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from West Virginia. She is a resident of Charleston.

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