Why is Massey CEO Don Blankenship afraid of George Miller?
That’s an easy one. Chairman Miller is the chief House sponsor of Mine Safety and Health Act of 2010, designed to
hold bad mine operators like Massey accountable [and] bring our nation’s mine health and safety laws up to date.
Empowered regulators, protected workers, higher fines for violations, no more gaming the system? Where are we—the fucking Soviet Union?
Bruce H. Vail, journalist and former union staffer, offers analysis of the bill at FDL:
The fourth feature alone is just stunning in its implication: It would give the miners themselves the right to close mines that THEY – not the owners or the government – believe to be unsafe. And they would be protected from losing their jobs, or even losing a days’ pay for such safety closures. In essence, it would guarantee to all miners the same rights that are now enjoyed only by workers organized into strong unions. This revolutionary feature will be attributed to MSHA’s Joe Main, who spent many years as a safety expert at the United Mine Workers before being appointed to his current post. The UMW, not coincidentally, has long been a bitter adversary of Massey Energy’s Blankenship.
And the sixth feature would transform the bill from a simple mine safety measure to a fundamental expansion of the workplace safety regime everywhere the country. It seems aimed at creating a sort of "Workplace Safety Bill of Rights" that is long overdue, and will almost certainly be opposed by business groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturing.
Furthermore:
The proposed legislation is remarkable because it clearly assumes that responsibility for the deaths at Upper Big Branch lies entirely with the mine’s owner/operator – Massey Energy Inc., and its odious chief executive Don Blankenship.
Okay, so we know that Blankenship’s record killed coal miners. Where does the Bard of Wasilla fit in? Well, last week the House Education and Labor Committee
voted 30-17 to send the bill, named for the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd, to the House floor, with all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans voting no.
...
[Miller] is pressing for a House vote as soon as possible on the bill.
The bill is co-sponsored by both of West Virginia’s Democratic House members. This sounds promising, right?
But, of course, Big Coal and their Republican lackeys hope to water down this strong bill in the Senate. In the meantime, they have coal-state Democrats in their crosshairs:
Don Blankenship contributed $4,800 in the second quarter to Elliott "Spike" Maynard, a former West Virginia Supreme Court judge running against 17-term Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.), according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
David McKinley, the Republican taking on state Sen. Mike Oliverio (D) for West Virginia's first congressional district seat, received $2,400 from Blankenship over the same span, FEC filings reveal.
Sarah Palin's political action committee contributed $3,500 to both candidates.
Don needs to elect more Republicans to kill laws that protect workers:
Blankenship said last week that Congress' greatest contribution to miner safety would be to do nothing.
"We need to let businesses function as businesses," Blankenship said Thursday at the National Press Club. "Corporate business is what built America, in my opinion, and we need to let it thrive by, in a sense, leaving it alone."
And Sister Sarah can’t wait to fill up the donation plate. The money is funding two very good investments for Blankenship. The brazenness is quite stunning.
First, David McKinley. This is the entirety of his website statement on the economy:
Economy
As a small government, free-market small businessman, I strongly support fewer taxes, fewer lawsuits, and less regulation. We need a business environment that strengthens the private sector’s ability to create jobs. Washington simply cannot create jobs as well as American entrepreneurship.
We absolutely must reduce the size of government. Let’s end the over-regulation that is stifling the coal industry and preventing the creation of more jobs.
The nation’s current punitive tax structure discourages economic growth. Let’s lower taxes so people will be inclined to start new businesses and existing businesses will be able to expand. The bailouts and stimulus packages have not worked and are only contributing to our rising national debt.
He just comes out and says it. Fuck those goddamn safety rules. Strengthened worker safety? Hell, no! Leave Big Coal alone? Of course—I’m bought and paid for.
So what about the second guy? (Hint: he’s even worse.)
Elliott "Spike" Maynard is what you could call a douche:
A justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court [Maynard-L] and a powerful coal-company executive [Blankenship-R] met in Monte Carlo in the summer of 2006, sharing several meals even as the executive’s companies were appealing a $50 million jury verdict against them to the court.
A little more than a year later, the justice, Elliott E. Maynard, voted with the majority in a 3-to-2 decision in favor of the coal companies.
...
The motion included photographs showing the men together. The time stamps on the photographs, apparently taken by someone who had joined the men during their time together, indicated that they met on July 3, 4 and 5, 2006.
Asked whether it was a coincidence that the two men found themselves in Monte Carlo at the same time, Mr. Gillenwater [Massey Energy spokesman] said, "That is a coincidence, I think, and it’s my understanding they were not staying in the same location." Justice Maynard stayed in Nice, France, Mr. Gillenwater said, and Mr. Blankenship in nearby Monte Carlo.
These people think we’re fucking morons! They think their money and influence trump dead coal miners. It’s sickening. Maynard has the gall to claim on his website:
If elected, I will stand up for West Virginia coal miners.
He also laments workers and government picking on Big Coal:
And I am against unreasonable attacks on the coal industry.
I’m sure that’s what he told Blankenship while swilling Merlot together on the Riviera. Fuckwad.
Okay, so the story could end there. Two outrageous candidates—pushed along by their coal-daddy and a know-nothing hockey mom—who still trail their Democratic opponents in fundraising. But it doesn't (hat tip to suibne):
[Coal] companies hope to create a politically active nonprofit under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, so they won't have to publicly disclose their activities — such as advertising — until they file a tax return next year, long after the Nov. 2 election.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last winter that corporations and labor unions may pour unlimited funds into such efforts to influence elections.
...
Nicholson listed three races "of interest": Conway against Republican Rand Paul for Kentucky's open Senate seat; Chandler against Republican Garland "Andy" Barr in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District; and Democratic U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall against Republican Elliott "Spike" Maynard in West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District.
...
In his letter, Nicholson said [International Coal Group] and three others — Massey Energy, Alliance Resource Partners and Natural Resource Partners — "have already had some theoretical discussions about such an effort and would like to proceed in developing an action plan."
Several of those companies have been involved in recent mine disasters that led to congressional scrutiny of their safety problems. International Coal Group owns the Sago mine in West Virginia where 12 miners died in 2006. Massey owns the Upper Big Branch mine, also in West Virginia, where 29 miners died in April. Two miners died in April in a Western Kentucky mine owned by an Alliance Resource subsidiary.
Gee, that's awful--and awfully predictable. (Also, too bad Mr. Nicholson might not get invited back to the country club for letting the cat out of the bag on this one.) I wonder if something could be done to shine a light on the shady collusion practiced by corporate cronies to mislead voters and achieve self-regulation. Oh, right:
The Senate on Tuesday refused to take up a bill that would require more disclosure of the role of corporations, unions and other special interests in bankrolling political advertisements, after Democrats failed to persuade even one Republican to support it.
President Obama and Democratic leaders have been seeking to use the Republicans’ opposition to the bill to portray them as beholden to corporate interests. Republicans, in turn, say the Democrats drafted the legislation in an effort to gain an advantage in this year’s midterm elections.
Sen. Chucklehead doesn't even try to deny what he's doing, blathering that Democrats have stalled the jobs bill he's filibustered all month. Harry Reid voted 'no' so he can call another cloture vote in September, while--despite being the swing vote--Olympia Snowe wants more time to bring people together:
Calling a vote on the bill premature, she said, "We have no had hearings, no vetting, no attempt, I think, to bring people together to work on an issue that responds to the Supreme Court’s decision."
Ms. Snowe, this rests on you. Your party’s "freedom" agenda translates to ensuring as little corporate accountability as possible, be it Massey, BP, Wellpoint or AIG. Contact Sen. Snowe to tell her to stand with workers, consumers and voters--not corrupt corporations--by supporting the DISCLOSE Act:
Phone: (202) 224-5344
or email
Also, Chairman Harkin, along with Sen. Rockefeller, is sponsoring the companion Senate mine safety bill. He is currently negotiating with Republicans on the HELP committee to win needed support. Republicans are stalling until the official investigation report comes in. Contact Sen. Harkin to let him know you support the mine safety bill and urge him to push ahead asap:
Phone: (202) 224-3254
or email