As the families and friends of the 25 miners who died in a West Virginia mine explosion Monday are mourning, the spotlight is once again shining on the flagrant disregard for safety displayed by the mine’s owner. Don Blankenship, of the Massey Energy Co., which owns the Montcoal, West Virginia operation, contributed millions in 2004 to a duplicitous campaign to defeat a West Virginia Supreme Court justice he perceived as hostile to his interests and to elect a friendly one, prior to a hearing on a damage-award appeal involving Massey. He’s also a global-warming denier, a Chamber of Commerce shill and a participant in last year’s Labor Day Tea Party Rally. Read more about him here.
Luckily for him, he’s got a friend in Ohio — Rob Portman. The Republican senatorial candidate is among the handful of lucky politicians Blankenship has favored with a donation so far this election cycle.
That got me wondering — what’s our old friend Robert Murray up to? You remember Bob Murray — the Chagrin Falls resident who heads the Murray Energy Corporation of Pepper Pike, owner of the Crandall Canyon (Utah) mine that collapsed in 2007, killing six miners and three rescue workers? It looks like he’s already bought himself an even larger chunk of Portman.
We won’t count on Portman to lead the crackdown on the string of violations and numerous unpaid fines the Massey Montcoal mine has racked up or a tightening of mining safety regulations. — Anastasia Pantsios
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2010.
Mr. Lewis,
Can you please enlighten me on the power that Mr. Portman has to collect the unpaid fines?
This country is in a debt crisis, so I have a question for you. When did you place a call to Washington to the agency issuing the fines and ask when they will be collecting the fines?
There is no excuse for knowingly putting others at risk! Of course, accidents happen and are tragic, but to know of dangers and not address them should be criminal!
If we want to state that because Murray gave money to Portman, than Portman is owned by Murray, than is Obama owned by his contributors?
I need to say that Portman was NOT my first choice for a senatorial candidate, but I will not stand for anyone, liberal or conservative, right or left, Christian or other, black or white or purple or green, gay or straight (did I miss anyone?) downgrading another for something that has yet to happen or for which they have no control! PERIOD!
Now, Mr. Lewis, do you think that I should blame you or SCENE for the crime in Cleveland because you were pro Jackson? Do I come to you for payment for the items taken from my home in a burglary because the police will no investigate? Why not? It’s the same logic you are using in the above article!
Mr. Lewis,
I did a little looking around on the link you provided.
Mr. Murray has also donated to Democrats!
John Dingell
Arlene Spector
Charles Wilson
Mr. Blankenship has, indeed, contributed to Mr. Portman, but only $1,000. He has given more to others.
Please don’t pick and choose how and what you report. You have much more credibility when you report the WHOLE story!