Mining Protestor In Governor's Outer Office

(Kentucky)  Mountaintop mining opponents who have been quietly holding vigils in the Capitol have stepped up their visibility with a protester lying in the floor of the governor's outer office, arms crossed on his chest, with a hand-drawn tombstone at his head declaring R.I.P.  Lexington teacher Martin Mudd spent two hours Thursday lying on his back with his eyes closed to raise awareness about the damage surface mining has caused in the state's Appalachian region. Gov. Steve Beshear has been a strong proponent of the state's coal industry, pushing for the federal government to loosen restrictions on the opening of new mines and expansion of old ones in the mountain region. That position has been unpopular with environmentalists who have been coming to the Capitol to protest every Thursday.