Coal Miners Still Waiting for Federal Safety Rules

President Bush has taken to telling reporters he wants to be remembered for his "great concern for the human condition." Tell that to America's coal miners – among others.

New federal rules that would mandate better-trained mine rescue teams -- rules that were supposed to go into effect Dec. 15, 2007 in response to a series of mining tragedies in 2006 -- are sitting at the White House under review. The Bush administration says it has no timeline for finishing them.

But taking swift action, President Bush has returned former coal mine executive Richard Stickler to the top of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, despite the fact that his company's injury rates were twice the national average. After first using a recess appointment to give Stickler the job when even the Republican-controlled Senate refused, Bush has now skirted the law again by reappointing him as an "acting" director.

Doing so, "demonstrates the deep level of contempt the Bush administration holds for the Senate and the constitutional role that body holds," United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts said. "The UMWA's position on Mr. Stickler has remained consistent from the day he was first nominated in 2005. We do not believe someone who has spent the majority of his working life as a coal company manager, supervisor and executive ought to be appointed as head of MSHA."