From ABC News, 11/9/06:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/11/mine_deaths_bla.html
Mine Deaths Blamed on Company Run by Major GOP Contributor
Asa Eslocker Reports:
West Virginia state mining officials concluded Thursday that a fatal
mine accident in January could have been prevented, placing blame on a
huge coal company run by one of the country's biggest Republican
donors, Don Blankenship.
Blankenship is chairman, CEO and president of the Massey Energy
Company of Richmond, Va.
He has spent millions of dollars to promote Republican candidates and
causes in this year's election.
The report on the fatal mine accident cites "168 notices of
violations" in Massey Energy's Aracoma Mine that led to the deaths of
two miners, according to the investigation issued by the West Virginia
Office of Miner's Health, Safety and Training.
The scathing report came just days before Tuesday's election, in which
Blankenship has played a major role.
In September and October alone, Blankenship has spent $2,041,510 of
his own money to place television commercials, billboards and
newspaper advertisements on behalf of Republican candidates in West
Virginia, according to state election records reviewed by ABC News.
"Blankenship has a company that has killed people, hurts people and is
using political power to try to line up friendly judges and a friendly
legislature," says Norm Steenstra, the executive director of the
Mountain State Education and Research Foundation, a non-profit group
that advocates campaign reform measures.
Blankenship's extraordinarily large expenditures are legal under West
Virginia and federal election laws because the money is steered
through a non-profit group he established, "And for the Sake of the
Kids."
Blankenship has backed more than 40 candidates in this year's
election, almost all of whom are considered to be pro-business and in
favor of revamping what is considered the state's "plantiff friendly"
environment.
Critics allege that Blankenship's huge campaign expenditures began
only after Massey Energy lost a $50 million jury verdict, which the
company is appealing.
His critics call it the "Blankenship Factor."
"Blankenship's got an agenda, and then he wraps himself in the mantle
of 'For The Sake Of The Kids,'" says Steenstra.
"There's never been a more obvious and more disgusting pollution of
the political process in West Virginia," says Steenstra.
Thursday's state mine safety report underscores warnings that Massey
employees were aware of dangers, including a fire sparked by a
malfunctioning conveyor belt that consumed the mine in thick black
smoke and carbon monoxide.
The report concluded the miners died of asphyxiation.
Inoperable fire hoses and sprinkler systems, reverse ventilation, a
broken fire alarm and inaccurate mine maps given to rescuers were also
cited as causes of the miners' deaths.
"The mine was set up to be a death trap," says Cecil Roberts, the
President of the United Mine Workers of America.
"It should be obvious that Massey knew it and had they taken the
action to protect the miners and comply with the law we wouldn't have
had these two fatalities," Roberts told ABC News.
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Throw the ***** down a mineshaft.
Harry
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