Democrats protect pensions

Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell call themselves “friends of coal.” They are really friends of coal operators. Friends of miners would support the Miners Protection Act. As coal has declined so have the pension funds of some 120,000 union miners. The federal government has guaranteed these funds since 1946. Congress should honor the promises made to us, especially to the old who cannot re-enter the workforce.

This bill protects those pensions. If nothing is done, pensions will stop for some 23,000 pensioners by next summer, according to projections.

Republicans Paul and McConnell oppose this simple fix. Democrats Jim Gray for Senate and Sam Gaskins in the 1st House District support it.

If Paul and McConnell win, federal pension guarantees will become less secure. Today union coal miners’ pensions are at risk; tomorrow it could be your Social Security pension, especially if Donald Trump gets to keep his promise to renegotiate terms (read “strong arm” holders to accept less than face value) on the federal debt, 15 percent of which is held by the Social Security trust fund. Both funds are under attack by Republicans. The best way to protect them is to vote for the party that proposed, supports and understands them, the Democrats.

This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Democrats protect pensions."