How does this reflect on our Senator?

People do not like Bush because of the failures of his government's branches. One of the least effective has been MSHA. The Miner Act was passed with Mitch as a major player in pushing for the bill. His wife being the Bush appointment overseeing it's implementation should have made it even easier. Considering that the Miner Act was a carcass of real miner safety this is a black eye for our senator McConnell.

Chao Misses Mine Safety Deadline. Bush Appoints Stickler—Again
from AFL-CIO Weblog by Mike Hall

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao missed the Dec. 15 deadline to issue new federal rules for better trained mine rescue teams at the nation's coal mines. The Charleston Gazette reports:

The rules are still not finalized and are sitting at the White House, under review by the Office of Management and Budget.

In 2006, spurred by what would become the highest coal mine death toll since 1996—including the deaths of 19 coal miners at the Sago, Aracoma and Darby mines in West Virginia and Kentucky—Congress passed and President Bush signed the MINER Act that mandated several mine safety improvements, including rescue teams.