It was the big game day. West Virginia's national spotlight turned away from the Sugar Bowl toward Upshur County. Cable news flashes reported lightning strikes were responsible for trapping miners soon after they entered a mine opened up after the holiday.
Switching channels I heard Gov. Joe Manchin say what I could not believe, "I've been in that coal seam, there is no methane in that coal seam." Believing that could not be true, my confidence sank. I called the Republican senator and delegate representing the area to urge them to go to the mine, assuming it would take time for Manchin to arrive.
Often subject to ridicule, West Virginians were proud of how Manchin represented them in this spotlight. He was still at Sago the evening he was scheduled to join legislators and the county medical association in Morgantown. When I returned from the meeting my eyes were glued to the TV.
During the rejoicing broadcasted from the church that evening, I sensed something was not right. Confidence normally heard in Manchin's voice was not there when he spoke. I stayed up all night until I recognized the truth. All but one had perished.
I could not leave for Charleston this Monday morning until the courthouse opened. It was my last chance to file for re-election. Because my car had blown up on my drive to the Sago miners memorial services in Buckhannon, my new car's first excursion would rush me back to Charleston so I could vote for the governor's mine safety legislation. His bill had not been introduced yet, but he wanted it to pass today.
The previous Thursday a fire in Massey Energy's Aracoma Alma No. 1 mine had ignited Democratic legislators' fury. Then Saturday, two were found dead in that mine. Now, on Monday we were to pass safety legislation in one day, with little time to comprehend it and no opportunity to gather expert advice.
The tracking devices Manchin's bill required pleased me. The early deadline for implementation made our state a leader in mine safety.
Some Republican delegates wanted to offer two amendments to the bill. One was to increase the number of air packs required by the legislation. A second was an amendment for communications.
I will never forget Manchin barging into our caucus meeting uninvited; that was unacceptable. He threatened House Republicans that if we offered any amendments, he would kill the bill and announce to the world, on national television, that "Republicans killed mine safety in West Virginia."
The House chamber was filled that day with cameras from media normally uninterested in our state. Now they were set up on the Capitol grounds and near the governor's office awaiting passage of safety legislation. Can a politician become addicted to media coverage?
There was every reason to believe Manchin's threat, because amendments might push the passage of the bill past television prime time.
After his threat, most in that caucus room believed Manchin's true priority was to be broadcasted live during the 6-6:30 p.m. news spot.
The lead sponsors withdrew their amendments. Our amendments were not unreasonable. Similar measures were later adopted by Congress increasing requirements for air packs beyond those in the bill we passed. The communication requirement in Manchin's bill was inadequate and, later, the rules process improved upon the legislation we were forced to accept.
We just wanted to make the mines safer. I'm haunted by his words in that caucus room and from Sago Baptist Church.
CINDY FRICH is a former, two-term, Republican Party member of the state's House of Delegates. She can be reached via e-mail at opinion@dominionpost,com.