This race is getting too damned close.

[Egnever]

20. We are way past that now.

I agree much more could be done to provide for these folks but then...Republicans...

You don't honestly believe Republicans would allow funding for programs to help these people do you?

The reality is Republicans are more than happy to rape the planet for personal gain and it certainly does not stop at the planet they will do the same to all workers given the chance. The evidence of this is undeniable.

Then of course one has to believe the premise that Dems have done nothing to try to ease the transition. Of course that is not true.

The plan, called POWER Plus and is part of the President’s proposed Fiscal Year 2016 Budget, provides more than $55 million in funding for job training, job creation, economic diversification, and other economic efforts in communities that have experienced layoffs due to the declining coal industry. According to the White House, that funding is “unprecedented” and will go toward improving the economic security of coal miners and their families, who have “helped keep the lights on in this nation for generations.”
Those investments include $20 million in funding for coal miners or coal plant workers who have lost their jobs in recent years. The money will go toward job transitioning services and programs for those who have lost their jobs in the coal industry. Another $25 million will go toward the Appalachian Regional Commission, which works to improve economic opportunities in Appalachia.
“Our point here is that while policymakers can disagree about the reasons why the coal industry is struggling, all Americans should be able to agree that these workers and communities, who are in some of the most economically distressed parts of the country, deserve help from the federal government,” Jason Walsh, a senior White House policy adviser told the Charleston Gazette.

Obamas budget in 2015

Republican reaction as one would expect..

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) called Obama's proposal "his most irresponsible budget yet," arguing that "American families looking for jobs and opportunity will find only more government in this plan."[1] The Speaker also that said that "this budget is a clear sign this president has given up on any efforts to address our serious fiscal challenges that are undermining the future of our kids and grandkids."[4]

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee said that "it's disappointing that the president produced a campaign document instead of putting forth a serious budget blueprint that makes the tough choices necessary to get our fiscal house in order."[1]

You can find that repeatable time after time.

The Senate on Wednesday passed legislation to authorize federal job training programs.

Passage of the legislation on a 95-3 vote marks a rare bipartisan area of agreement amid the Senate's election-year stalemate.

Congress last authorized the workforce law in 1998, and it expired in 2003.
"In these 16 years, there have been several attempts to reauthorize this legislation, and they have all fallen short," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said.

Reid said he hoped passage of the bill would help thaw the Senate's legislative logjam over the past several months.

"They say in basketball, if you’re not doing well, you have a lot of off days, that the best way for a shooter to get his rhythm back is to sink a couple of baskets," Reid said. "So I hope this theory proves true here in the Senate. It’s time we sank a couple of baskets. It’s time we start working together to get things done."

The legislation was negotiated by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), as well as their counterparts in the House.

And the republican input?

The Senate considered two Republican amendments, bringing the total number of roll calls on GOP amendments to 11 in this Congress.

Sen. Jeff Flake's (R-Ariz.) amendment, rejected 33-63, would make it optional to appoint and certify new local job training boards.

Additionally, Sen. Mike Lee's (R-Utah) amendment would require reviews of job training every four years. Funding for the programs would be reduced if they do not submit the reports. It was also rejected by a vote of 40-58.

That's right two amendments to try to undercut it. Nah the idea Republicans are trying to protect the coal workers is rubbish as is the idea Dems have not been trying to soften the blow.