Democrats called for hearings into the Administration's mine safety policy [View All]

Democrats called for hearings into the Administration's mine safety policies yesterday in the wake of the Sago Mine tragedy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/national/05mine.html
In Miners' Town, Grief, Anger and Questions
By JAMES DAO
Published: January 5, 2006

SAGO, W.Va., Jan. 4 - As this tiny town struggled to contain its anguish and anger over the deaths of 12 men in a coal mine explosion, the mine's owners came under fierce criticism on Wednesday for the miscommunications that caused the miners' families to believe that their loved ones had survived the ordeal<snip>
The explosion early Monday trapped the 13 miners more than two miles inside the mountainside, releasing toxic carbon monoxide that prevented rescuers from reaching them for more than 40 hours. One miner survived. The bodies of the other 12 men were taken to the medical examiner's office Wednesday morning for autopsies.<snip>
State and federal mining experts opened their investigation of the explosion, the cause of which has not been determined, on Wednesday afternoon, as Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao vowed "to take the necessary steps to ensure that this never happens again."
Congressional Democrats also called for hearings into the mine company's safety record and the Bush administration's policies on mine safety, citing a long list of violations at the Sago mine.<snip>