Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) continued to rip Hillary Clinton for anti-coal policies in an interview Thursday on Fox News, calling for Clinton Foundation money to go toward shoring up the pensions of struggling miners.
Paul tweeted out the same idea earlier in the day as 10,000 retired coal miners and their families came to Washington, D.C. on Thursday, trying to help pass legislation that would ensure the United Mine Workers of America’s retirement and healthcare funds.
.@HillaryClinton should use $ from @ClintonFdn to shore up miner's pensions. After all, it's her agenda that bankrupted the coal industry.
— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 8, 2016
Paul called on Clinton to apologize after she said earlier this year that her policies would put a lot of coal miners out of business, due to moves toward renewable energy resources.
"If she’s serious about caring about the miners that her policies have put out of business, she ought to put her money where her mouth is," Paul said. "Clinton Foundation’s got millions of dollars. Why doesn’t she donate some of that to the miners’ fund to help their pension? I don’t think she’s serious about it. The Clintons are always concerned about someone else’s money."
Asked specifically what Clinton had done to harm coal, Paul pointed out she promised to continue the regulatory positions of President Obama that have led to a steep decline in coal use.
"I see no difference in Barack Obama’s policy to bankrupt coal and Hillary Clinton," he said. "I think she’s doubled down on it, and I think that it will be the demise of the coal industry if she is able to win the White House. So yes, I do hold her personally responsible."
Paul, who represents coal-rich Kentucky, is running for reelection to the U.S. Senate.