By Stu Johnson
Richmond, KY – Some Kentucky miners say more and not fewer safety regulations are needed to reduce safety risks in mines. The head of the Kentucky Coal Association says confidence in federal solutions is slipping.
Members of the United Mine Workers held a teleconference Tuesday to react to comments by U.S Senate candidate Rand Paul. In a national magazine article, Paul makes a case for more local mine regulation and less from Washington. U-M-W-A representative Tim Miller says additional regulation is all about miner safety
"The industry always looks at added regulation as job killers, but we look at added regulation as coal miner life savers, and we have to have more regulation to address every day changing problems."
Kentucky Coal Association president Bill Bissett questions whether more decisions made in Washington, California, or New York make Kentucky mines safer. Bissett's answer is no.'