Bush Resubmits Mine Safety Nomination
Bush Renews Nomination of Mine Safety Official That Had Been Put on Legislative Hold
WASHINGTON Sep 6, 2006 (AP)— President Bush on Wednesday renewed his nomination of a former mining executive to lead the Mine Safety Health Administration.
Democratic Sens. Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts have said the nominee, Richard Stickler, spent too many years as a coal mining executive and failed to demonstrate that safety is his priority.
Byrd put a legislative hold on the nomination, and under Senate rules the nomination was sent back to the White House before the August congressional recess after the two refused to waive a rule keeping nominations open when Congress is not in session.
Stickler, who worked 30 years for Beth Energy Mines Inc. before he was appointed to run Pennsylvania's Bureau of Deep Mine Safety in 1997, was first nominated for the federal job nearly a year ago. In June, Republicans scrapped a vote on his nomination after it became clear he didn't have enough support to win Senate approval.
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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2401514