Congress to investigate coal mine disaster that left 25 workers dead

[cal04]

Source: The Hill

Lawmakers dispatched aides to West Virginia on Tuesday to investigate the deadliest mine disaster in more than 20 years.

Lawmakers dispatched aides to West Virginia on Tuesday to investigate the deadliest mine disaster in more than 20 years, launching what is likely to be a new round of questions about the adequacy of mine-safety laws.

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, sent two committee staff aides to the Upper Big Branch South mine near Montcoal, W.Va., where a methane explosion killed 25 miners and left four more missing and thought dead.

One committee aide was dispatched on Monday and an additional investigator was sent Tuesday. Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Workforce Protections subcommittee, pledged Tuesday to hold hearings on the Upper Big Branch accident.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/90799-congress-to-investigate-west-virginia-coal-mine-disaster-that-left-25-dead

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W.Va. congressman vows probe of mine blast
http://www.wxow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12265555

[Brickbat]

1. Mine safety laws aren't the problem -- it's the ENFORCEMENT of those laws and the MEASLY PUNISHMENT

for those who break them.

[LiberalLoner]

2. It seems like laws in general aren't enforced anymore except against little people like all of us.

Corporations or rich people seem to be above the law. That's how it looks to me anyhow.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Laws are for little people. nt

[TxVietVet]

8. Let's have an AMEN on that.

:bounce:

[icnorth]

3. How many *&^%$ times do you need to

investigate the conditions that led to this disaster? How many *&^%$ times do you need to need to count the number of violations of standard safety policy and practices? How many *&^%$ times do you need to fine these *&^%$*#@! for blatant disregard of human life? Somebody's ass should be in jail. Now. Nothing concentrates the CEO mind as wonderfully as the possibility of downtime at the State Guest House. :mad:

[iamtechus]

4. A congressional investigation probably isn't necessary to determint the cause

I'd be willing to bet that it was caused by lax regulation. OSHA and other agencies responsible for enforcement of mine safety regulations have been defunded and populated with Bush cronies whose mission it is to deregulate them.

[Dr.Phool]

5. How about a federal grand jury investigation.

Congress will whitewash it.

[gratuitous]

6. Uh oh, looks like Mr. Blankenship is gonna have to do a whole lot more bribin'

Dang pesky things, all those dead miners. Very inconvenient.

[TxVietVet]

9. What happened to the mountaintop that was removed ABOVE THIS MINE?

Or, was I the only one who noticed that the mountaintop was GONE?

I would also like to point out that THE GOVERNMENT FAILED THOSE MINERS.

AS WE CAN SEE, THE FREE MARKET BUNCH KILLED THEM WITH LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT MANDATED SAFETY CODES.