In EPA air quality vote, Casey sides with environment over coal

A vote in the U.S. Senate Wednesday thrust Democrat Bob Casey in the middle of a bitter tug-of-war between the coal industry and environmental groups.

Ahead of a vote pushed by Republicans to block implementation of an Environmental Protection Agency air quality rule limiting certain gases from coal plants, Casey, who represents a coal-producing state, faced pressure from both courts. At least one group, the National Mining Association, directly targeted Casey as one of a list of Democrats it hoped to swing against the EPA, reported Politico.