OSHA last inspected this plant in 1985, 28 years ago. This is how republicans bend over backwards to protect business. Republicans get out of businesses way and let them operate any way they please.
The New York Times and others have reported that the fire began at a fertilizer plant owned by West Fertilizer, just off Interstate 35, only 20 miles from Waco.
There is no paid Fire Department in the area so the blaze was tackled by volunteers. The Fertilizer Plant had no Fire Equipment or rescue vehicles and no adherence to safety practices and the Republican Government that runs Texas is just fine with this. Governor Rick Perry could not care less. Republicans all across America are trying to copy this and free business of all rules and regulations. WhenTexas Fertilizer Plant Inspection Long Overdue
OSHA last inspected this plant in 1985, 28 years ago. This is how republicans bend over backwards to protect business.
WEST, Texas - Last night an enormous explosion rocked this small town situated near Waco, killing 15 and injuring hundreds.
The New York Times and others have reported that the fire began at a fertilizer plant owned by West Fertilizer, just off Interstate 35,
only 20 miles from Waco.
There is no paid Fire Department in the area so the blaze was tackled by volunteers. The Fertilizer Plant had no Fire Equipment or rescue vehicles and no adherence to safety practices and the Republican Government that runs Texas is just fine with this. Governor Rick Perry could not care less. Republicans all across America are trying to copy this and free business of all rules and regulations.
When will republican voters realize thast the GOP does not represent the interest of workers, the GOP is the voice of big business.
Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, in whose district the town is located,
told the New York Times: "The fire spread and hit some of those tanks that contain chemicals to treat the fertilizer and there was an explosion causing wide damage."
It is expected that questions will be raised regarding unsafe workplace conditions at West Fertilizer. The plant was cited for failing to obtain or qualify for a permit in 2006 after the strong smell of ammonia wafted over the plant and the town.
The plant has not been inspected even once in the last five years. Company officials argue that there is nothing unusual about the lack of inspection and point to the fact that only six Texas fertilizer plants have been inspected at all during the last five years.
A spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said this is because the agency is severely understaffed. A given plant like West Fertilizer, the spokesman said, can expect to be inspected only once every 67 years on average. Once every 67 years on average, can you grasp that? Art Republicans crazy? Is Texas trying to become the China of the USA? This Fertilizer plant had No firewalls, No backup systems. It is plain Texas has no workplace rules.
The understaffing of OSHA has had dire consequences for workplace safety across the country. In 2010 alone, some 4,500 people were killed on the job, up three percent from the previous year. Are factory deaths just part of the cost of freedom like gun nuts shooting up schools and killing 6 year olds? More people killed in factory accidents in 2010 than when the planes hit the twin towers. Every year we remember the anniversary of the towers falling and in reaction to that trajedy our lifestyles have changed and huge sums of money have been given to the surviving familiy members. How much did workmans comp pay the families of the deceased factory workers? Do you remember their lives at all?
The death-on-the-job figures don't count those outside the workplaces who may suffer injury or death due to unsafe conditions at a plant. Hundreds injured in this blast, for example, are West residents not employed by West Fertilizer. Will Rick Perry call for corrective action or just keep his mouth shut and stuff his pockets with the money big business pays politicians to look the other way.
This fixed and broken system has to end and only the people wakeing up and voting the bums out of office will get the ball rolling.
Weak needed Democrats and corrupt Republicans need to be shown the door.
Things are expected to get even worse with OSHA because of looming huge cuts that are part of the sequester. OSHA ,under the sequester, must cut its $564.8 million budget by 8.2 percent, or almost $50 million.
The White House has already said this will mean more than 1,000 fewer inspections. The plant owners must be grinning all the way to the bank. With so little oversight they can dispose of their waste by dumping on the ground and in waterways. When a worker dies in a plant accident the owners and managers of that plant need to be tried for manslaughter or even second degree murder. If the business owners faced this kind of scrunity they would be a lot more carefull about the sleasy things they do and they would place more value on the life of the workers.
When will republican voters realize thast the GOP does not represent the interest of workers, the GOP is the voice of big business.
Republican plans for OSHA, meanwhile, would be even more devastating. The GOP budget calls for a $99 million cut in the agency's budget. If you work for a living and vote republican you are an idiot. I hope I said that plain enough for you to understand.
Rick Perry was a republican candidate for president for about three weeks. Under his leadership Texas is dead last in about everything they keep records on. Rick is bought and paid for and belongs to big business.
A Letter To Alan Simpson
No skin off Alan's butt, he's not giving anything up.
Alan Simpson, the Senator from Wyoming calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security " to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats. Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS in Montana ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is!
"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight!!!
1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for FIFTY YEARS.
2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).
3. My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud.
4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and "your ilk" pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age, 67. NOW, you and your "shill commission" are proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.
5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now "you morons" propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because "you idiots" mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal our money from Medicare to pay the bills.
6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you "incompetent bastards" spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt. To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" to your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU:
1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?
2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?
3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?
4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?
It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcase thieves who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.
And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our expense, you lunk-headed, leech.
That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.
And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch.
P.S. And stop calling Social Security benefits "entitlements". WHAT AN INSULT!!!!
I have been paying in to the SS system for 45 years “It's my money” -give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out these monthly checks .
Max Baucus: Connoisseur of Revolving Door Corruption
Max Baucus is a scum sucking dirtbag and a sell out who deals for his own interest and to fatten his own pocket.
Major tax cuts were extended for giant corporations — while the average Montana was stuck with a $900/year in increased taxes — and the person responsible is claiming he doesn’t even know how his staff put it in there for his former staff? This is why Bill Moyers referred to Max Baucus as, “a connoisseur of revolving door corruption.”
The Baucus revolving door cabal numbers in the dozens. In fact, his last revolving door scandal was less than a month ago. There was another Baucus revolving door scandal only six weeks ago.
And another Baucus revolving door scandal only six months ago.
Last year, Baucus had a revolving door scandal on tax policy. In the previous congress, there was his revolving door scandal on climate change. And of course, who could forget the obscene revolving door scandal during health care reform. And these are just some of the highlights from this term, which is only 2/3 of the way done. And Baucus is in his sixth, 6-year term in DC. Montana voters rightfully retired Conrad Burns for his culture of corruption. Unfortunately, Montanans are still represented by the most corrupt member of the House of Lords.
It is time for Baucus to go.
Amherst County Virginia Democratic News
ACVDN
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