Fifteen West Virginians die tragically

[Inland]

in Iraq, hundreds more left behind, unable to leave. Government working hard not to free them, doing something decidedly less than everything possible to keep them alive.

http://icasualties.org/oif/USMap.aspx?hndState=West%20Virginia

[Ian David]

1. Stan Suboleski: Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

Shortly after taking office, Lauriski bragged to a group of coal industry executives that his regulatory agenda "is quite a bit shorter than some past agendas." Indeed, death warrants usually tend towards brevity. Part of Lauriski's abbreviated agenda is to reduce the number of times a mining company has to sample coal dust levels inside the tunnels, a move that is certain to increase incidence of black lung disease. And yes, Lauriski wants to get rid of the chest X-ray program that tests miners for black lung disease. Lauriski also wants to slash the number of mine inspectors by 25 percent.

http://eatthestate.org/07-05/NaturePolitics.htm

<snip>


Stan Suboleski: Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Suboleski is an executive with the A.C. Massey Coal Company which, according to the United Mineworkers, has one of the worst safety records in the industry. Massey is also the company responsible for the annihilation of more than 70 miles of streams in eastern Kentucky when 300 million gallons of coal sludge spilled from one of its mines. It was the worst ecological disaster in the US since the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Stan's appointment was a recess appointment, meaning that his appointment was made during a senate recess, freeing him from requiring senate confirmation hearings.
http://www.pushby.com/queue/politics/002511.html

More:
http://www.oldamericancentury.org/bushco/cronyism.htm


See also:

22. The mine is owned by ICG
which is largely financed by a billionaire predator named Wilbur Ross. Ross, inconjunction with Massey Energy, was also instrumental in the purchase of bankrupt Horizon Energy. His lawyers persuaded a bankruptcy judge in Kentucky to void the pensions and healthcare of both the current Horizon workers and the retirees.

ICG took over the Sago Mines (where the explosion occurred) in November. Mine has a history of violations.

I'm making an assumption that this is a non-union operation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2016485#2016831

[Dr.Phool]

3. Wilbur Ross is aldo the guy who took over LTV Steel with ISG

when they filed bankruptcy, and then bought out Bethlehem Steel and gutted all the Steelworkers pensions and benefits. I believe he also bought Eastern Airlines, and liquidated it within a week.

After he took over LTV Steel, and about a week after they re-started operations, a friend and former co-worker of mine, with nearly 30 years experience, was crushed to death between 2 railroad cars.

[InsultComicDog]

4. The Republican Mine Disaster: Blood on their hands

http://dailykos.com/story/2006/1/3/111733/1034

[GrpCaptMandrake]

2. Comparison well taken n/t