Mine Safety Bill DEFEATED!!

There's a blog called "AllGov - Everything Our Government Really Does" that can be very interesting. Here's a little tid-bit from today. Please go to the original (follow link) and read some more.



Friday, December 17, 2010
Mine Safety Bill Defeated
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.

Forty-eight coal miners have died on the job in the U.S. this year—the most since 1992, when 55 coal miners were killed.
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Interesting, no? Think about all this stuff when you listen to another "legislator" extoling the supposed "American Virtues".

After all, workers in many countries have FAR better working conditions than we do here. What we do to, and DEMAND from, workers here would cause a general strike in many places --- AND --- we don't even give them HEALTH CARE, and are trying to take away both pensions and Social Security.

The most amazing thing is that "our" government does this with the STRONG support from many of the working class -- who are complicit in their own oppression.

Wonderful job of marketing by our peerless leaders.