"In previous elections, candidates from both parties have campaigned on pledges to be environmental presidents. This time, neither candidate is talking much about cleaning up the air or protecting scenic lands. Instead, the debate has focused on whether and how much environmental regulations hurt businesses, especially the energy industry."
"Mostly it's been GOP candidate Mitt Romney criticizing President Obama for what he sees as overzealous environmental regulations that strangle the economic recovery.
Despite progress over recent decades, America's environmental ills are not solved. Air pollution in many areas still contributes to lots of asthma attacks and premature deaths from heart and lung failure. And dirty water in streams across the nation still makes some fish dangerous to eat.
Although the president doesn't talk up his environmental record much, his administration enacted long-delayed rules that could go a long way to cleaning up the toxic air pollution from burning coal to make electricity."
Elizabeth Shogren reports for NPR's All Things Considered October 14, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Covering The Role of Coal in Virginia" (Columbia Journalism Review)
"Covering Romney in Ohio’s coal country" (Columbia Journalism Review)
"Telling The Truth About Coal Plant Closures" (Coal Tattoo/Charleston Gazette)
"Dems in Coal States Diverge on Obama Policies" (AP)
"Coal States Crucial in Battle for Control of Congress" (Bloomberg)
"CREW Files FEC Complaint Over Coal Company's Coerced Campaign Donations" (Mother Jones)
"Court Strikes Down EPA Rule on Coal Pollution" (Reuters 8/21/12)
"Coal Plants’ Victory Over EPA Is Muted by Low Gas Prices" (Bloomberg Businessweek 8/22/12)
"Report Says EPA Rules Not Cause of Upsurge in Coal Closures" (Charleston Gazette)
"Coal's Decline Forewarned" (Charleston Gazette)
"Thousands At Appalachian Rally Show Support for Coal" (AP)
"Romney Would Have To Fight for Energy Agenda" (Politico)
"As Election Nears, A New Debate Over 'Clean Coal'" (NPR/StateImpact Pennsylvania)
Coal Industry Political Contributions (Center for Responsive Politics)
"Presidential Campaigns Peddle A 'Bunch Of Stuff' To Coal Workers" (Huffington Post)
"Ad Blitz Hits Ohio Sen. Brown Over Coal Industry Regulations" (E2 Wire/The Hill)
"Environmentalists Blast 'Pro-Coal' Obama Ad" (Washington Post)
"Climate Group Pushes Obama Campaign To Pull Pro-Coal Ad" (E2 Wire/The Hill)
"Ohio Coal Miners Rally Against Obama's 'Absolute Lies'" (Human Events)
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