Cutting Corners

The mining accident in West Virginia in which 12 miners lost their lives and another may have brain damage is a great tragedy. According to reports, there were more than 200 safety violations issued for this mine, indicating that there were serious concerns for keeping this mine operational. The federal Government Accounting Office concluded in a 2003 report that the district offices for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) were deficient in overseeing the mining industry. For example, MSHA did not provide enough oversight to ensure timely inspections in some districts, it did not ensure that hazards found were corrected in a timely manner, procedures for inspectors were unclear and sometimes nonexistent, and MSHA did not collect data to evaluate its performance in order to prevent future accidents and identify trends. The Bush administration has consistently reduced the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's budget since taking office in 2001. The result has been a marked reduction in inspection and enforcement staff. It appears the Bush philosophy of trusting big business to do the right thing has contributed to a more dangerous workplace for miners. Just like in the Gulf Coast, where levees failed after Hurricane Katrina because maintenance money had been reduced, lives were lost, perhaps unnecessarily. Unbeknownst to most Americans, a tax cut signed by Bush in 2001 was taking effect at about the same time as the explosion in West Virginia. The new cut is estimated to reduce tax revenues by $27 billion in the first year and about $150 billion through 2010. About 90 percent of the benefits will go to families with incomes greater than $200,000. Very few benefits, if any, will go to average American workers, including the miners. While I think companies are entitled to make an honest profit, they shouldn't be allowed to cut corners that impact workers negatively and, sometimes, fatally.

NICK REINA

Milmay, New Jersey

Letter published in the Courier Post, January 13, 2006

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060113/OPINION/601130305/1005/ARCHIVES