Issue Position: Protecting Kentucky Jobs

Issue Position

Protecting Kentucky jobs must be a top priority for all leaders in our state. As Attorney General, I'll be committed to not only protecting the jobs we have now, but also to working to foster a climate in which our vibrant private sector can create more good jobs for Kentuckians from Pikeville to Paducah.

Coal is a vital element in the fabric of our state and our history. Kentucky's coal industry not only provides quality jobs to numerous regions of the state, but also the low-cost electricity that is critical to our local and business infrastructure. Whether I'm standing up to the federal government on EPA rules or fighting against local threats to our coal industry, I will be a strong defender of keeping coal vibrant and alive in the Commonwealth.

We must also protect our other key Kentucky industries -- from farming to manufacturing -- that ensure that Kentuckians of all backgrounds have access to good paying jobs that can support a family and put food on the table. At the end of 2014, over 232,000 Kentuckians were employed in manufacturing jobs, [1] while in 2011, agricultural jobs contributed a total economic output of $8.4 billion. [2] We must preserve and nurture these important sectors so that future generations of Kentuckians can benefit from these good-paying jobs.

There is nothing more important than ensuring that Kentucky families in all regions of our state experience the dignity and security of a quality job, and as Attorney General I will be dedicated to making sure that all families have the ability to make ends meet.

[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics Figures
[2] Kentucky Agriculture Facts, Kentucky Farm Bureau

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