Coal industry's political contributions suggested as reason for failure of mine-safety bill

The defeat of a mine-safety bill, proposed in Congress following the Upper Big Branch coal mine disaster in West Virginia last April, has been linked to the mining industry doubling up its political contributions to legislators before the December 2010 vote, the Los Angeles Times reports. Analyzing data provided by the Federal Election Commission, Doug Smith of the Times found "at least 144 members who voted against the bill received mining industry money, including two members who supported an earlier version." (Read more)