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The Washington Post noted Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell’s efforts to block President Obama’s new proposal for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by closing coal plants. It told readers:

“coal is a major source of energy and jobs in McConnell’s state and in several others represented by Democratic senators who are seeking reelection this year.”

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Situation survey, the coal industry employs 11,600 workers in Kentucky. This is equal to 0.6 percent of total employment (1,862,000). This puts Kentucky in second place to the 4.2 percent share in West Virginia, but in every other state represented by Democratic senators who are seeking reelection this year the share of employment in the coal industry is considerably less than in Kentucky.

 

Note: The share in West Virginia was corrected. The post originally said 1.6 percent.