Joe Manchin actually said...
I don't want to believe that anybody would ever put a cost to human life. That's me speaking. That's the state of West Virginia speaking. I can tell you how much a roof boulder costs. I can tell you how much a continuous miner costs. I can tell you how much a ton of coal sells for, but I can't tell you the price of a miner -- that's priceless.
Context
Joe Manchin emphasizes the importance of human life over the cost of mining equipment and coal.
02/05/2006