COLUMBUS — As Sen. Rob Portman tries to distract from his record of voting to slash mine safety and restrict access to black lung health care and benefits, here are the facts about Portman’s record of prioritizing the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of Ohio’s working coal miners.

“Senator Portman is the ultimate Washington insider, and his record of pushing the agenda of the wealthy and well-connected has been devastating for Ohio’s coal workers,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Daniel van Hoogstraten. “Portman couldn’t care less about working families in Appalachia — Portman voted to slash mine safety funding and restrict access to black lung health care and benefits for miners and their families and took campaign cash from coal barons like convicted criminal Don Blankenship. It’s just another example demonstrating how Portman’s twisted priorities represent exactly what Ohioans in every corner of the state hate about Washington politics and D.C. insiders.”

See the facts for yourself:

• Portman Voted Three Times To Slash Funding For Mine Safety. [Charleston Gazette-Mail, 10/27/12; Vote 46, 3/21/13, Vote 98, 5/15/12, Vote 77, 5/25/11]

• Portman Voted Seven Times To Repeal Legislation Expanding Access To Black Lung Benefits For Miners And Their Families. [ACA Explained, Accessed 8/2/15; Federal Register, Accessed 8/2/15; Vote 51, 3/22/13; Vote 34, 3/13/13; Vote 9, 2/2/11; Vote 253, 7/26/15; Vote 46, 3/21/13; Vote 98, 5/15/12; Vote 77, 5/25/11]

• Portman Took $1,000 From Don Blankenship, Former CEO Of Massey Energy, Who Was Convicted Of Conspiring To Violate Federal Mine Safety Standards. [Sunlight Foundation, Influence Explorer, Accessed 8/2/15; New York Times, 12/3/15]

• Portman Took $2,400 From Richard Whiting, CEO Of Patriot Coal, Who Fought To Protect Millions In Bonuses To Mining Executives While Cutting Pensions For Mine Workers. [Sunlight Foundation, Influence Explorer, Accessed 8/2/15; Bloomberg, 5/16/13]

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