( - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
In the latest "McCaul Minute" (plus or minus the cumulative amount of time Congressman Mike McCaul has spent thinking of his constituency for the month), I found this paragraph rather telling:
As with millions of Americans, I am shocked by the cost of filling up with gasoline. In Texas, the average cost of gasoline is $3.53 per gallon. A number of factors contribute to the soaring gas prices. Regardless of the reasons, working families are being hit hard by record prices at the pump.
First of all, "filling up with gasoline?" Are you eating gas now? You're missing a noun in there. Secondly, that last sentence makes no sense. Fire your communications director, Congressman. "Working families" (we could say "all families" but let's move on) are being hit hard by record prices at the pump precisely because of the reasons that you are so quick to disregard. And since when is it acceptable to glaze over the actual issues that are causing these prices to go up? These "working families" would probably rather have their Congressman address those very "factors" rather than once again hearing the usual "drive slower" and "carpool" suggestions that McCaul segues into.
And how about those "working families." Do you mean the ones who work in labor and industry, Congressman McCaul? Because it seems to me that in the very same hot minute that it took you to compose your newsletter, you also voted against the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act (H.R. 5522) which your colleagues (at least on the D side) voted for in a 247 to 165 vote.
This act would, as McCaul mentions in his Minute, "require [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's] OSHA to issue an Interim Final Rule (IFR) within 90 days of enactment, which covers every facility 'in which combustible dust presents a hazard.'"
McCaul goes on to say that he opposes the "preemptive legislation" because:
"OHSA should complete its investigation first and also because an expedited interim standard is unrealistic, confusing and creates a one-size-fits all standard, which ultimately fits no one, making workplaces more unsafe."
Hm. Okay. However, a March press release announcing this bill being introduced states:
In 2006, following a series of fatal combustible dust explosions, the [US Chemical Safety Board] CSB conducted a major study of combustible dust hazards. It identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers, injured 718 others, and extensively damaged industrial facilities. Nearly a quarter of the explosions occurred in the food industry, including several at sugar plants.
Seems like if the CSB has had enough time to review 25 years' worth of dust incidents, it might be time to act. Another sentence from the press release points out something McCaul failed to mention in the minute he took to review what he's been up to:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration already has the authority to issue such a rule without Congress passing new legislation, but the agency has failed to act despite the fact that the dangers of combustible dust have been well known for years.
Congressman McCaul, you should be worried. You should be worried and ashamed. You are a Congressman who preaches about "working families" paying more at the pumps but you choose to disregard the reasons why. You endanger these same "working families" in their workplace and then try to convince them that you did this because the safety measures are too "confusing" and "preemptive." Too bad for you that these "working families" are the ones who are going to be voting for someone with their best interests in mind in the fall. Your opponent Larry Joe Doherty isn't afraid to get to the root of the "reasons" why gas prices are soaring and isn't daunted by "confusing" safety standards that might be unpopular with your Republican cronies.
It's never too soon to start planning for your retirement, Congressman. In fact, you're more than a minute late. |
