http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/editorial/14644913.htmBush appointees in Elaine Chao's Labor Department blocked 18 mine safety rules, to the cheers of their industry friends. Those Bush appointees are now landing back in industry jobs or other posts in the administration.
Chao, along with other Republicans in Washington and Frankfort, bragged about the low number of mining fatalities in recent years. So why is no one stepping up to take the blame for this epidemic of mining deaths now?
Only the nation's miners and their families, many of whom voted for Bush, seem to be suffering any consequences at all.
the abuse doesn't stop with those who go under ground to mine coal.
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=111BB214875E94D8&p_docnum=2THROW HIM BACK
NOMINEE BAD CHOICE TO OVERSEE STRIP-MINING
One of the industry apologists who rolled back mine-safety protections is President Bush's choice to head the agency that oversees strip-mining.
Unbelievable, but true.
Thousands of Kentuckians depend on the U.S. Office of Surface Mining to protect them from strip-mining's worst abuses, including blasting that destroys their property, road building that sends boulders crashing down on homes and poisonous run-off into streams and groundwater.
Nothing in John Correll's tenure at the Mine Safety and Health Administration, where he was one of Dave Lauriski's two top deputies, recommends him for this appointment.
Just the opposite.
Correll is loaded with the kind of baggage that should block his confirmation in the Senate, especially after recent mine disasters raised serious questions about MSHA's performance.
Correll was part of the leadership team that axed safety rules that would have beefed up mine rescue teams and required flame-resistant conveyor belts, changes that might well have saved miners' lives in recent months.