Massey urges Congress to hold off safety reforms
The face of a homicidal maniac? by Ken Ward Jr. That high-powered public relations and lobbying firm hired by Massey Energy to help the company after the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster is pushing the idea that federal lawmakers should hold off any reform legislation until the entire investigation is completed — which could be [...]
Who Killed the Miners? Profits over Safety?
By Jeff Biggers All coal mining safety laws have been written in miners’ blood. My grandfather, who barely survived an explosion in a coal mine in southern Illinois, taught me this phrase. He also taught me about the 150-year-old battle in the coalfields over reckless production at the cost of responsible safety measures. As our [...]
The W.Va. Chamber of Commerce continues its misinformation campaign against Sen. Byrd’s effort to help disabled miners get black lung benefits
Ken Ward Jr. When Coal Tattoo last left our friend Steve Roberts, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce president’s political strategy was that state representatives in Washington should bottle up health-care reform unless President Obama ordered EPA to start approving new mountaintop removal mining permits. Now that health-care reform has passed — a move that [...]
Sen. Byrd’s language to help coal miners part of health-care reform
by Ken Ward Jr. Passage of the landmark health-care reform bill also means success for Sen Robert C. Byrd’s efforts to streamline the process for coal miners to obtain black lung benefits. According to a press release from Byrd’s office, the senator inserted these two provisions in the legislation – In cases where a miner [...]
The race to stand up for coal
by Ken Ward Jr. Well, the race to stand up for coal continues at the West Virginia Legislature … Yesterday, the Coal Association lobbyists gave their pitch about mining permits to the special committee set up by House Speaker Rick Thompson. There are reports out from Larry Messina at The Associated Press and Ry Rivard [...]
Gov. Manchin’s Tech Park secrecy
by Ken Ward Jr. You’ve got to hand it to the Daily Mail’s George Hohmann for organizing a media protest of Gov. Joe Manchin’s closed-door meeting about the future of the South Charleston Technology Park. Gov. Manchin talks a lot about how he wants his administration to be open, but more and more — when [...]
