Reader comments
Pass new mining bill

Word is (although for some reason the article didn't mention it), Cannon voted against the bill.
Here's hoping Bush doesn't veto it.

Are Senators Hatch and Bennett doing anything to persuade the president to sign it?

Has Bush EVER done the right thing?
That guy has failed on every opportunity to do the right thing.

This bill is a sneaky attempt by Rep. George Miller and other environmental extremists to get rid of coal mining. But it�s promoted as a safety bill in order to use people�s emotional reactions to enlist support. It includes nonsensical mandates such as requiring that mine operations be shut down during surface thunderstorms, even though there is no evidence that such storms impact underground mine safety in any way. Such mandates will seriously cripple the viability of mining itself, and Miller knows this. The 2006 Act is more than sufficient. This latest bill should be vetoed.

This bill existed as a plan designed to make mine exploration and permitting much more difficult long before the safety mandates were added following the Crandall Canyon disaster. To say the bill is for the victims is exploitation at its worst.

The safety measures called for in this bill are akin to wearing a heltmet with a face guard and a five-point seat belt everytime you drive to the post office and never going over 45 mph on the freeway. There are practical limitations to the effectiveness of any type of saftey measure.