The coal industry will suffer the same fate as Osama bin Laden under new climate regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, the head of the United Mine Workers of America said this week.

“The Navy SEALs shot Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan and Lisa Jackson shot us in Washington,” Cecil Roberts, president of the powerful union, said during an interview Tuesday on the West Virginia radio show MetroNews Talkline.

Roberts blasted Jackson, the EPA administrator, over the proposed regulations, which would limit greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants. Opponents of the regulations, including Roberts, say the new rules would be the death knell of the coal industry.

Prosecutors allege Johnson and Jordahl acted as a "hub" to coordinate activities among Walker's campaign and a host of conservative groups to help Walker and other Republicans in the recall elections. Those recalls were sparked by the GOP move in 2011 to sharply limit collective bargaining for most public employees.

Outside groups are allowed to work together on campaign activity, but there are limits on their ability to work with candidates. Generally, they are supposed to remain independent and not allowed to strategize with candidates.

The Wisconsin Club for Growth maintains that prohibition does not apply to them and other conservative groups because they did not run ads explicitly telling people how to vote. Their efforts praised Walker and criticized his Democratic opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, but escaped regulation because they did not use the phrases "vote for" and vote against," they argue.

The prosecutors dispute the club's arguments, saying the work by outside groups amount to illegal campaign contributions. If groups can in effect give candidates unlimited sums from corporate entities, Wisconsin will turn into a free for all, they contend.

Prosecutors contend the Wisconsin Club for Growth doled out money to other groups to help Walker or other Republicans — nearly $3.5 million to the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state's largest business lobby, and $4.6 million to Citizens for a Strong America.

Looking around at some local Madison sites and at some less-local lefty sites, I see a scary love of prosecutorial aggression and overreach. The slavering enthusiasm is so off-putting, so much at odds with the liberal values I believe in, that I feel pushed away onto the side of conservatives with whom I have little reason to affiliate.

The number two Internal Revenue Service official was in direct contact with Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) about scrutinizing tea party and conservative groups throughout the 2012 election, according to documents made available Wednesday.