On Friday, it was discovered that three coal mining companies with ties to the Trump Administration received more than $28 million in coronavirus relief under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), despite the fact that the program is supposed to provide relief to small businesses. The coal companies receiving bailout money were Hallador Energy ($10 million) -- for which Trump's former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is not a lobbyist -- Rhino Resources ($10 million) -- for which Trump's assistant secretary for the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health, David Zatezalo, served seven years as chairman -- and Ramaco Resources ($8.4 million) -- for which Randy Atkins, currently a member of the Energy Department's National Coal Council, is CEO. This is just yet another example of the PPP failing to provide small businesses with the relief they so desperately need, instead prioritizing powerful corporations over them. While these conflicts of interest explain why these companies were able to receive these loans, they are not the only conflicts of interest the president has with the coal mining industry.
In fact, he is the top recipient of money from the industry out of all federal candidates throughout the 2020 election cycle, having thus far taken $67,432. Also, many organizations that have taken money from lobbyists for the industry have donated to the president's re-election campaign. These include the national Republican Party ($13,265) -- of which state committees have raised $4,150 from Tucker Shumack ($2,400 to Kentucky), Rashid Hallaway ($1,000 to North Carolina, and $500 to Indiana), and John Bradley Holsclaw ($250 to Iowa) -- as well as Rep. Michael Burgess 's (R-TX) Lone Star Leadership PAC ($10,000) -- which has received $1,000 from Chris Giblin. Plus, Hallaway also contributed $5,000 to Vice President Pence's Great America Committee. Additionally, below is a list of lobbying firms representing the coal mining industry and how much money the president has taken from them:
Total: $4,775
When coupling these donations with the aforementioned direct ties the administration has to the coal mining industry, it is understandable as to why President Trump would allow a program such as the PPP to give loans to the companies in the industry that he is close to, rather than the companies that need them the most. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic is exposing the government's corruption in real time, as it shows, more than ever, that they prioritize the industries that donate to them over the ones that need relief the most.
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