Representatives. Not surprisingly then, Democrats gained six seats in the Senate and 31 in the House and now set the congressional agenda. The new congressional leadership is likely to focus enhanced attention on measures of considerable concern to our industry. Many mining-related congressional districts are now represented by the newly installed Democrats in Congress. Moreover, the new chairmen of important committees with jurisdiction over mining-related policies - such as the environment, climate change, mine safety and taxes - has not been a traditional supporter of our industry. This may not be a temporary state of affairs, as recent polling of public opinion doesn't bode well for the Republican Party. While Democrats recently earned a 42 percent positive rating from the electorate, Republicans posted a 44 percent negative rating.
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