Perusing the Wash. Post today, I ran across an article about a controversy involving a speech given by OSHA (Occup'l Safety & Health Admin.)chief Foulkes to kids who won or placed in a safety-on-the-job poster designing contest.
The controversy was fanned by a progressive blog about labor-mgt. relations and occupational safety issues, Confined Space.
Lately, the blogger has been discussing the recent coal mining deaths in Kentucky, faulty regulatory environment (affecting safety equipment, inspections, etc.), and political posturing.
With regard to the last point, when I turned on the radio, last night, I heard on C-SPAN, a repeat of Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) remarks in the Senate urging passage of some kind of mine safety (?) bill and approval of the Mine Safety & Health Admin. nominee (whose nomination has been languishing for 2 months or so). I listened to McConnell's remarks with a certain degree of cynicism, having been biased by the blog commentary.
Perhaps I shouldn't have allowed myself to feel that way, but I was already negatively disposed towards McConnell due to his stand, years ago, on campaign finance reform.
(As a slightly irrelevant aside, it should be noted that his wife is the Secretary of Labor, the federal department that contains OSHA. She is, of course, Elaine Chao. (Back in the day, she was a cutie with a high political profile -- or is it the other way around?))
Meanwhile, it doesn't hurt that I sorta know the blogger. I remember him from my high school German class.
(Can't remember if he had a passion for labor relations and occupational safety, in those days, but then it's hard to predict where one's life will lead.)