Jim Justice in 2016 WV Governor's race
On Environment:
Paid $900,000 fine for poor pollution controls at mines
A coal company owned by West Virginia billionaire Jim Justice has agreed to pay a $900,000 fine for environmental violations and improve pollution controls at mines in Kentucky and other Appalachian states at an estimated cost of $5 million. The U.S
Environmental Protection Agency announced the settlement Friday with Southern Coal Corporation and 26 affiliated mining companies. Kentucky and many other states enforce federal clean water and mining rules, with federal oversight.
The Justice companies with pollution-discharge permits in Kentucky listed in the complaint are A&G Coal; Four Star Resources; Infinity Energy; Kentucky Fuel Corporation; Sequoia Energy; and Virginia Fuel. The settlement is separate from one Justice
reached with Kentucky in 2014 to clean up environmental problems. In that case, Justice admitted hundreds of violations at his company's mines in 8 counties. Justice owed $4.49 million in fines for the violations, but the state settled for $1.5 million.
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader on 2016 West Virginia Governor race
Sep 30, 2016
On Health Care:
Don't plan on repealing Obamacare/ACA's Medicaid expansion
A Justice campaign spokesman said he doesn't plan on repealing the program for the expansion population. "Jim will root out waste, fraud and abuse across state government; not something Bill Cole has been able to do," the spokesman wrote in an
email. "He will focus on creating jobs to grow revenue to close the Medicaid and other budget gaps. Jim is a businessman who will make a top-to-bottom evaluation of the budget, make responsible decisions and will always protect working families."
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail on 2016 West Virginia governor race
Sep 3, 2016
On Abortion:
The Supreme Court ruled on abortion, and the law is the law
Asked if he considered himself pro-choice or anti-abortion and what he would have done with the abortion restriction bills that Gov. Tomblin vetoed, Justice did not respond. "I am not in favor of abortion, however the
Supreme Court ruled on this, and the law is the law," he said in an emailed statement. He did not respond to follow-up queries seeking clarification or even which Supreme Court case he was referencing.
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail on 2016 West Virginia governor race
Aug 28, 2016
On Environment:
EPA regulations have been difficult, overreaching, and wrong
The climate regulations imposed on the state have been difficult, overreaching and wrong, Justice said.
More can be done with clean coal technologies to make them more economically viable and keep coal as a vital fuel source, he said.
Source: Parkersburg News-Sentinel: 2016 West Virginia governor race
Oct 9, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 10, 2018