It was just yesterday that John Raese got the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to replace Robert Byrd, but already there’s a political bumper sticker out declaring that John Raese is wrong for West Virginia. Why? What makes Raese the wrong choice?
How about this tidbit for starters: John Raese is supporting the ambitions of elite investors and top executives at coal companies at the expense of coal miners’ safety. Raese seems to have forgotten all about the deadly explosion at Massey’s Upper Big Branch coal mine this year. Instead of calling for increased safety regulations, Raese says he wants to “unshackle” management at companies like Massey.
We’ve seen what happens when coal executives are allowed to operate mines under lax regulation. Raese’s proposal to remove protections is a kick in the face of coal miners, when they’re already down.
