W.Va. Dems Turn Down MTR Measure

At its annual state convention this past weekend, "West Virginia's Democratic Party "narrowly voted down a resolution Saturday that supported a freeze on new permits for mountaintop removal sites," The Charleston Gazette reports.

"The resolution supported deep mining other methods of strip mining, enforcement of current environmental regulations, increased investment in sources of renewable energy, and called for all Democratic legislators to work to protect safety standards and 'bring good-paying green jobs' to West Virginia," The Gazette reported.

The convention instead approved a platform that says the party "supports energy independence that uses clean-coal technology, reclaiming mined areas, enforcement of the Clean Water Act, and a 'return to' the Kyoto Protocol," the article said. "Despite persistent rumors saying the abortion issue may come up, Democrats did not remove the platform plank supporting abortion rights."

Public Broadcasting also reports on the proposed resolution, with audio. "Opponents said they were afraid Republicans would use it against them in the fall election," that report said.