Miners Win One

Confined Space: "VICTORY: Senate Sticks It To Bush Mine Safety Nominee

The days of being able to freely appoint industry hacks to important government positions may be drawing to a close for the Bush administration.

Facing certain defeat in a vote to close off debate, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist cancelled a scheduled vote this afternoon on the nomination of Richard Stickler to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) opposed Frist's motion to cancel the vote and demanded that the vote take place unless he was assured that the Bush Administration would not recess appoint Stickler. After consulting with the White House, Frist agreed that if Bush were to move to recess appoint Stickler, that a Senate vote in would occur first. (The President is allowed to 'recess appoint' nominees when the Senate is out of session. Bush has used this tactic numerious times to appoint controversial nominees who can't get Senate approval.)

Kennedy issued a statement calling on Bush to 'reconsider and to nominate someone to this crucial position who is a proven champion for mine workers’ safety.”"

Another sign of hope. These oversight functions have been ignored too long by the media and even by the anti-Bushies, so it is good to see some focus returning . Perhaps we can get some professionals, as opposed to industry insiders and political hacks, in other positions.