CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Marion County delegate admits Democrats don’t have the numbers to keep a bill making changes to state mine safety regulations from passing on Friday when the House of Delegates is scheduled to take a final vote on the Senate bill.
“The new Republican majority is going to, in my opinion, ram this through because the (West Virginia) Coal Association wants it and they’re towing that line,” Del. Mike Caputo (D-Marion, 50) said.
“The title of that bill is fatally flawed.”
The Creating Coal Jobs and Safety Act of 2015, at 105 pages, specifically addresses a list of mine safety regulations that supporters of the legislation have said are expensive and make it difficult for West Virginia’s coal industry to compete with other states.
In some cases, the state regulations addressed exceed existing federal regulations.
The full text of the bill is available here.
Overall, Del. Randy Smith (R-Preston, 53) said it’s a good bill.
“When this session’s done on Saturday, Monday morning I’m going to be five, five and a half miles underground with my coal mining friends, buddies, brothers and I’m going to be able to look them in the eye and tell them that I went to Charleston and tried to preserve their safety and protect their jobs,” Smith said.
Opponents of the bill, like Caputo, have argued the bill only gives more power to coal operators while compromising miner safety.
“The needle never moved,” he said of his efforts to change the bill through negotiations. “It was the way you guys proposed the bill is the way the bill came out.”
Caputo and Smith debated portions of the bill on Thursday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
At the end, Host Hoppy Kercheval asked Caputo, “Would you agree that the coal mine business is struggling right now?” “Yes,” answered Caputo.
“Would you agree that sometimes it’s very, very tight margins of whether or not a mine can stay in business?” asked Kercheval. “Yes,” answered Caputo.
“Would you agree that there are elements of this that, if you don’t have to close a section to move equipment, things like that, that maybe that mine can be just a little bit more profitable and remain open?” asked Kercheval.
“I will never sell out safety for profit,” Caputo said.
The 2015 Regular Legislative Session continues through March 14.