Judge Executives from several coal producing counties joined Speaker of the House, Greg Stumbo, yesterday to forward the cause. Currently half of the coal severance money goes to the state, and the coal producing counties split the other half. Stumbo highlighted the financial plight of these counties who depend on the revenue. In just four years the coal severance revenues have dropped from $20.5 million a month to just $8.9 million. Several of the County officials testified before the House appropriations committee, and highlighted the hardships that their constituents have endured. Jim Townsend of Webster County blatantly said his county will go out of business if something isn’t done. In a statement to the committee Stumbo said, “The state should wean itself off of coal severance revenue and let coal counties more of what they generate”.