Labor & Employment Law

Massey, Sago Owners Set to Spend Big $$ to Defeat Pro-Mine Safety Candidates

By Mike Hall

Two of the nation?s most anti-union coal companies, which operated mines where the two worst 21st century mining disasters claimed 41 lives, are set to dive head-first with loads of cash in hand into this fall?s congressional elections, according to news reports.

The Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader reports that Massey Energy Co., headed up by CEO Donald Blankenship, owner of the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 miners were killed in April, and International Coal Group (ICG), owners of the Sago mine where 12 miners died on the job in 2006 and several other major coal companies, are hoping:

to pool their money and defeat Democratic congressional candidates they consider “anti-coal.”

The likely targets of the coal companies are strong advocates of mine safety and vocal critics of Massey and other companies accused of skirting mine safety laws. They include Jack Conway, who’s running against Republican Rand Paul for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, and two incumbent House members, Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) and Nick Joe Rahall (D-WVa.).

The Herald-Leader reports the coal companies are exploring creating what is called a 527 group, which refers to the portion of the tax code that covers them.

Tony Oppegard, a former MSHA staffer and longtime mine safety lawyer in Kentucky, told the Herald-Leader:

Between them, ICG and Massey have had 41 miners killed in just two disasters. It?s disturbing to see companies that don?t have strong safety records try to defeat politicians, like Ben Chandler, who have fought for stronger mine safety.

Benjy Sarlin on the Daily Beast says the news that Massey is reportedly looking at ways to influence congressional elections this year is “only the latest intersection between money and politics for Blankenship.”

In 2004, he spent $3 million in advertising against a State Supreme Court Justice?s re-election, drawing intense scrutiny after the judge who replaced him ruled in favor of throwing out a $50 million verdict against Massey. Four years later, Blankenship was photographed on the French Riviera with another State Supreme Court Justice, Elliott ?Spike? Maynard, raising further ethics questions.

Blankenship?s French Riviera pal Maynard is Rahall?s opponent, and in the second quarter of this year, Blankenship donated $4,890 of his personal money to Maynard?s campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Some say the Republican candidates who accept money from Blankenship and his cohorts will have the blood of dead miners flowing through their contributions.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on August 02, 2010 (boomark / email).