Mine Safety Bill Defeated

[The Straight Story]

Mine Safety Bill Defeated
Friday, December 17, 2010 Nine months after the worst coal mining disaster in decades, the U.S. House of Representatives has squandered an opportunity to strengthen federal regulation of mine operations.

The Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act, named after the longtime senator from West Virginia, was defeated in the closing days of Congress’ lame-duck session after 27 Democrats and all but one Republican (Walter Jones of North Carolina) refused to support the measure. A vote to suspend debate on the bill needed two-thirds support. Although the vote in favor was 214-193, the majority was not enough to meet the threshold.

The bill would have increased penalties for serious safety violations, granted more protection for whistleblowers and would have made it easier to close problem mines.

The mining industry managed to kill the legislation despite spending less money on lobbying this year ($21 million) than previous ones. It did receive help from the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers in defeating the plan.

The industry handed out $3.7 million in campaign contributions during this year’s election, with 71% going to Republicans.

Last April, 29 coal miners were killed at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine, prompting a slew of outrage as well as promises of new federal powers for mine regulators.

http://www.allgov.com/Top_Stories/ViewNews/Mine_Safety_Bill_Defeated_101217

[Le Taz Hot]

1. This IS still a "Democratic Congress," right?

:wtf:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. naw, that was a nasty rumor flying around.

It never was. Too many DINO Blue dogs infiltrated our party. Corrupted it. Turned potential gold into shit.

[Still a Democrat]

11. "27 Democrats and all but one Republican "

The numbers say you're calling out the wrong party.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. My level of disgust with this administration and Congress has just about reached its limit...

I want to know where we are going..and why are we in this handbasket???

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. wow. You sure are forgiving.

I lost it when my cup of disgust runneth over, about 4 months ago.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. LOL.

I thought I was going to have to justify my attitude...but it seems I am not alone....Thanks.

[malaise]

3. Why did it need two-thirds support

to suspend debate?

This is fugging crazy.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. Disposable miners are a fact of life in Communist China...

I guess now that China owns most of the USA, it's okay here too.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. but, they hate us for our freedoms, ergo,

we need to rid ourselves of them so they won't hate us anymore.

I heard a teabagger interview on the AM dial yesterday. They are taking aim at the horrible, wasteful Clean water and Clean air socialist laws. Passed by Nixon, no less. Golly. How grand of them.

[Hubert Flottz]

12. My teabagger neighbor was crying the blues because the roads

are a mess and not a single piece of removal equipment has been seen since the latest storm started. I told him not to cry like Jon Boinger, because he'd bragged about voting for the "Lower Taxes""less government" republican last month.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. does your TB NNNAYbor ever connect the two?

or is that infinitesimal leap of logic too large for them to grasp?

[Hubert Flottz]

18. This guy is a rupertbotic beckkkerheaded kool-aid suckin' 8ball.

"Thought" it was just fine how Bush and Cheney lied us into Iraq and were torturing prisoners. "Thinks" McSame and Palin was just what this country needed. Totally plugged in to Rush and FOX. A lot of people probably believe that this fool is really trick or treating 24/7.

[me b zola]

7. Sweet Jesus

My tolerance for the fuck-wads in congress is lessening by the minute. :grr:

[spanone]

8. shame on congress...bought & paid for

[The Straight Story]

13. Yep, they only need us one day a year to vote, rest of the year they want $$ (nt)

[DainBramaged]

14. 27 Democrats and all but one Republican refused to support the meas

Shame on them

[blindpig]

16. Murderous whores. n/t

[phantom power]

17. "squandered opportunity" seems to be a recurring theme these days