The January short session of the legislature will meet to set budget priorities, and make changes in the budget already adopted.
Kentucky badly needs more coal mine inspectors...even with mining production falling; which may seem like a fallacy.
But recent news stories have pointed out several facts:
Kentucky has failed to collect millions in mine
safety violation fines...some from out of state millionaires. While the
inspectors don’t collect those fines, they can keep after culprit mines
and keep pressure on other state agencies to
do their jobs.
Environmental groups have again told the state that
some mines are falsifying their pollution reports...and there does seem
to be evidence they are right. These groups shouldn’t have to do such
reports, the state should, and with enough inspectors
it can.
Inspectors are there to make sure safety rules are
followed. If they do their jobs correctly, miners can work more safely.
Fewer inspectors mean, inevitably, more mine accidents and more
Kentuckians injured and killed.
This is where budget priorities need to change..and
where this state needs a “culture change”..no longer turning a blind
eye to operator violations. Fewer eyes, more violations, and more
deaths in an already not-too-safe industry.
I'm just sayin'...
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