The Charleston Gazette (WV) reports on a Congressional hearing that spotlighted state efforts to improve mine safety and proved the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is stuck in the dark. As OMB Watch has reported, there has been little progress in federal mine safety regulation since the tragedies of Sago and Darby in 2006. This hearing shows how states are forced to pick up the slack. West Virginia legislated tougher mine construction standards and Kentucky has beefed up mine inspections. Widows of killed mine workers urged the House Education and Labor Committee to ensure greater mine safety at the federal level. Congress attempted to do just that in the wake of Sago and Darby. The MINER Act, signed into law in June 2006, should have already improved working conditions for our nation's miners. Unfortunately, MSHA has been negligent in enforcing the law. During the testimony, United Mine Workers of America president Cecil Roberts said, "I am sorry to report that MSHA's effort over the past year would do little to change matters today if a mine were to experience an explosion."