Bush appoints nominee to direct mine agency

[Judi Lynn]

Bush appoints nominee to direct mine agency
Richard Stickler named despite opposition from mine workers, Democrats
Updated: 17 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush appointed an embattled nominee to head the agency in charge of miners’ safety Thursday over the opposition of the United Mine Workers of America and Senate Democrats.

Congress is in recess, which means the president can appoint Richard Stickler to the job without Senate approval. The appointment is expected to last about a year, until the end of the next session of Congress.

Stickler, of Terra Alta, W. Va., will head the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which has been without an agency head for two years. The mine agency is part of the Labor Department.

Bush nominated Stickler last year, but Senate Democrats blocked his nomination.

The lawmakers and the UMW said Stickler spent too many years as a mining executive and failed to demonstrate adequate concern for safety problems in the mining industry. In addition to working in the mining industry, Stickler headed Pennsylvania’s mine safety office from 1997-2003.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15339878/



Stickler

[sutz12]

1. Yet another UP YOURS from Dubya.....nt

[Heidi]

2. Locking.

Duplicate of: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2570736