OSHA/MSHA cronies

[skids]

I hate to make fodder from such a tragedy, but it's got to be said. In addition to ignoring the 2002 warning about mining safety from Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee (see here: )

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x53703

...he's also set up a bunch of cronies to do a "Heck of a Job" on worker safety:

http://cernigsnewshog.blogspot.com/2005/10/incompetent-crony-watch-this-time-its.html
http://www.google.com/custom?q=foulke&sa=Google+It&cof=AH%3Acenter%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fspewingforth.blogspot.com%2F%3BAWFID%3Acf186f6ae84eaaad%3B&domains=spewingforth.blogspot.com&sitesearch=spewingforth.blogspot.com
http://matewan.squarespace.com/journal/2004/12/19/snare-appointed-acting-osha-head.html
http://www.google.com/custom?q=snare&sa=Google+It&cof=AH%3Acenter%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fspewingforth.blogspot.com%2F%3BAWFID%3Acf186f6ae84eaaad%3B&domains=spewingforth.blogspot.com&sitesearch=spewingforth.blogspot.com

And though Folke's predecessor, also a Bush appointee, was at least qualified (how'd THAT happen?), he wasn't well liked:

http://effectmeasure.blogspot.com/2004/12/resignation-of-osha-director.html
http://www.google.com/custom?q=Henshaw&sa=Google+It&cof=AH%3Acenter%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fspewingforth.blogspot.com%2F%3BAWFID%3Acf186f6ae84eaaad%3B&domains=spewingforth.blogspot.com&sitesearch=spewingforth.blogspot.com





Oh yeah, this too, as an aside: http://www.nathannewman.org/laborblog/archive/003429.shtml

[Erika]

1. It is well known that W wanted to weaken the Mine Safety Act

and reduce the inspectors by 25%. He wanted "voluntary" compliance to safety measures.

The miners know this and Chairman Dean should have a great welcoming committee of miners. The son of one of the miners said that since Labor was forced out of mine safety that conditions were going downhill.