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How is coal industry impacting the White House race?

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    Laid-off coal miner Allen Black weighs in

  • Duration 5:40
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This transcript is automatically generated

Is attacking Mitt Romney because Mitt Romney and supports coal miners but it's Barack Obama looks at it and so if somebody wants to local -- when they -- and -- just that there will bankrupt them.

Obama wages war on Cold -- we lose jobs to China was using more cold every day and now your jobs in danger this.

Well that is part of a Romney campaign ad accusing President Obama of waging a war on coal it has just begun running in the battleground state of Virginia.

All this is the future of the coal industry is getting new attention on the campaign trail.

Because this is an important industry in swing states like Ohio Pennsylvania.

And Virginia.

Where -- recent struggles are big news.

Among those struggling a man named -- black.

He was recently laid off after more than two decades working in the coal fields of eastern Kentucky.

Since then he's burned through his retirement savings to take care of Stanley helped keep the son in college.

He says Washington is not paying enough attention.

To people like him.

-- now for his take laid off coal miner -- black Alan great to see you thank you so much for being here.

You for him Megan you know not -- yeah I know you went out you've got a brand new Nissan Altima and two weeks later you found that you're losing your job describe.

The reaction from.

That the coal miners there in -- when that happened.

Know it's.

Par for the course.

Given the environment of the go industry right now.

Didn't happen to anybody at any moment coming out work for had not like a -- -- in.

Over twenty years.

And when they had to break that streak you know they had to hurt there.

And I know that you he's publicly disclose your make it 65000 dollars a year you only get 30% of that on unemployment.

That was off the top of my -- roughly 30%.

I -- 14100 dollars before taxes per month plan that -- used to you get 18100.

After taxes.

Every two weeks.

He got a family to support you like so many other coal miners have found yourself out of a job but I thought it was really.

Poignant and one guy was describing how win the layoffs occurred at his -- 750.

Full time workers were laid off entirely he said the look on everyone's faces wasn't necessarily shock.

He said it was fear fear of how -- gonna provide for my family.

How -- gonna find a job you -- feel some of that yourself.

We Islam -- often lament Megan.

Best part of the historical problem with the coal industry.

Is when we have these pairings back.

There's nothing there to replace it.

-- the only industry in this region.

Why do you think there's a war on coal what does that mean.

Will.

We've got a lot of environmental pressure on us.

And I can understand that most miners -- We're all by nature woods when we love the environment we love to be out in the -- that you won't undermine her alive that doesn't.

As far as that goes.

-- Have catalogs I -- thought okay -- it's.

That's regulation yes it did they EPA is coming and they they've got these regulations and and I understand that we all understand that it's not the regulation so much as it is the execution of when you come into new -- this many people that your industry is gone.

We have to have someplace to go.

Now in the 1960s.

This happened and we have a lot of people that migrated out of -- and went to.

Detroit.

Worked in the auto industry there was there was something going on to absorb -- we don't have it.

Not the case now and I and I know.

I know you feel like -- may not happy with the EPA they they of course say they're it's about.

Clean clean that having been environments of the need to crack down on coal mining -- the president justify it.

That way but.

I know that you feel some dissatisfaction with both of these candidates in this presidential election because you feel like.

It's like watching a reality TV show a bad reality TV show.

Well it is Megan.

I mean I turn the television on and policy is mode going back and forth and I'm -- interest in that.

I don't care about tax returns I don't care about college records I care about what's going on in this country in the course that is wrong.

What's the way -- Allen.

Will.

Both parties -- whom have to sit down at the table.

Do have a little compensation their discussion.

That you -- you can't have.

Both extremes I in my way or the highway.

There has -- middle road have you made up your mine at a presidential election.

Yes I have what do you think it if you want to share.

Way over I'll put it like this she blew it.

Past four years have shown me what.

President Obama's gonna do.

And I really don't think that I can -- -- years of that.

-- black all the best hearing fairly hopeful works out for you.

Thank you so much -- --

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