Withelection season in full swing, June reporting on political contributions showedMurray Energy Corp.'spolitical action committee making good on pledged support for Donald Trump,while Alpha Natural ResourcesInc. closed up shop on its own PAC.
Accordingto the U.S. Federal Election Commission, or FEC, the Murray Energy PAC donated$100,000 to Trump Victory, a PAC working on behalf of the Republican Party'snominee for president.
Paidout June 28, the contribution marked one of five Murray election seasoncontributions for the month, with a total of $9,500 split between theRepublican Governors Association, Friends of [Bill] Cole, the Illinois CoalAssociation and Andy Thompson for State Representative.
TheMurray PAC contribution came after the company's founder and CEO, Robert Murray,voiced his supportfor Trump as the only viable candidate for president this November.
Onthe day the contribution was reportedly paid out, Murray told aninvitation-only gathering in Wheeling, W.Va., that Trump "will be the bestpresident of our lifetimes," suggesting that he would repeal "illegalregulatory excesses," end Obamacare and Common Core and terminate theinternational climate change agreements recently reached in Paris.
TheMurray PAC previously donated to PACs backing Texas Republicans Rick Perry andSen. Ted Cruz. According to a company spokesman, no other funds werecontributed to Trump's campaign from the Murray Energy, the corporate PAC orMr. Murray.
AsMurray sharply increased its campaign backing, Alpha moved to close up shop atits own political action committee. After focusing its contributions onstate-level contests earlier in the year, Alpha's PAC continued to give heavilyto local races in West Virginia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, doling out $72,250in the month of June alone. However, the company PAC ended the month with atermination notice filed with the FEC, ending the PAC's activity for the year.
As apart of its reorganization plan, Alpha announced the sale of some ofits core assets to Contura Energy Inc. — a new company created by some ofAlpha's first-lien lenders. It is unclear whether the closure of the Alpha PACwill be followed by a separate Contura PAC.
Junealso saw almost $23,000 in contributions from 's corporate PAC, withdonations from $250 to $2,700 paid out through the month.
Trumphas emerged as thecoal industry favorite this election season.
Inaddition to Alpha's decision to shutter its corporate PAC, 's PAC has ceasedall activity this year as it navigates its own bankruptcy process. Thecompany's last reported activity was a March refund of $93,744.
Whilecorporate PACs are associated with companies, PAC contributions are decided bya steering committee, not the company itself.