Mine Safety - Does Conservative De-Regulation work?

[Coexist]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/01/60minutes/main609889.shtml

But all that changed when the Bush administration took over and decided that the country needed more energy -- and less regulation of energy companies. The investigation into Massey Energy, a generous contributor to the Republican Party, was cut short.

“The Bush administration came in and the scope of our investigation was considerably shortened, and we were told to wrap it up in a few weeks,” says Spadaro.

<snip>
“People I spoke with, who were on the investigation team, told me that they believed it was absolutely cut short, that they had more work to do and they were told to wrap it up,” says Smith.

“It appeared to me they thought we were getting too close to issuing serious violations to the mining company,” says Spadaro.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The new head of MSHA, a Bush appointee named Dave Lauriski, was a former mining industry mining executive, and so were his top deputies.

Spadaro says Lauriski came into his office one day, and insisted he sign a watered down version of the report -- a version that virtually let the coal company and MSHA off the hook.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/5/144525/8771
<snip>
The reintroduction of the coal dust measure came after the federal agency had abandoned a series of Clinton-era safety proposals favored by coal miners while embracing others favored by mine owners."

The kicker: "Mr. Lauriski said the coal dust measure would improve miners' health by encouraging the use of equipment to limit how much dust miners breathe."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52928-2004Nov15.html
<snip>
For the past four years, the union has been dissatisfied with decisions the Bush administration's Mine Safety and Health Administration has made to place former industry officials in high-ranking jobs and eliminate long-standing regulatory proposals.

"They pretty much pulled off all the progressive regulations already," said Main, a former miner. "Those regulations should not have been withdrawn and make the difference between whether miners are protected or not."
<snip>
Since the new MSHA team came to office, 17 of the 26 rules that were in some stage of completion were taken off the agency's regulatory agenda. The union wants more attention focused on safety rules at mines since coal production is expected to increase under the Bush administration to fill the nation's energy needs.

David D. Lauriski, the assistant secretary of Labor in charge of MSHA, declined requests for an interview. In a written statement he said: "Priorities change in every administration and year to year our priorities have been and will be focused on improving the safety and health of miners."

[JeffR]

1. No

eom

[bullimiami]

2. works for the bosses. not for the miners.

depends on your priorities.

[Coexist]

4. Lawsuits aint cheap!

:evilgrin:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Apparently not

I think that the results of massive de-regulation on a Bushian scale speak for themselves.

[jpak]

5. When republicans "regulate", miners die.

n/t

[Coexist]

6. Wonder why the MSM hasn't covered the de-regulation of this

industry yet.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

7. Not enough dead miners yet

We're still waiting for news of the two who are still trapped in Logan County.


In answer to your question, which I trust was somewhat facetiously asked, no, deregulation has never worked to the benefit of anyone but the suits who make a killing both in the market and in the workplace.

In the long run, it's even more costly to the company in terms of the lost man hours and workers comp payments that accrue to an employer who worries more about short-term gain than long term growth.

Coal, being a finite resource with narrow profit margins, would do far better in the long run with close government supervision that could in large part protect it from the "boom-and-bust" cycle that is inherent to its very nature.

Then there's the matter of creating a level playing field for workers to exercise their freedom of association. Union mines are uniformly safer mines.

[Coexist]

8. One of the articles above is an interview with a Union

Mine Safety Director trying to oppose the rollback of all the Clinton-Era safety measures. It is a damn shame.

and Yes, I was being very facetious.

[Coexist]

9. I just saw the Governer speak about mine safety

Sir - you need to mention that regulations USED to be in place and were REMOVED by this adminstration, because companies can 'police themselves' and government regulations "cripple" these industries. I am so pissed right now.