NYTimes: Bush Directive Increases Sway on Regulation

[brettdale]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30rules.html?hp&ex=1170133200&en=f7bdc9f4cbb28c31&ei=5094&partner=homepage


Bush Directive Increases Sway on Regulation


WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 — President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.

This strengthens the hand of the White House in shaping rules that have, in the past, often been generated by civil servants and scientific experts. It suggests that the administration still has ways to exert its power after the takeover of Congress by the Democrats.

The White House said the executive order was not meant to rein in any one agency. But business executives and consumer advocates said the administration was particularly concerned about rules and guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

[aquart]

1. He SIGNED a "directive"? WTF WROTE it?

Mr. Yoo? Mr. Gonzales? This subpoena is for you.

[Tatiana]

2. This is insane. It's insane that we haven't frog-marched this administration out of the WH.

Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California and chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said: “The executive order allows the political staff at the White House to dictate decisions on health and safety issues, even if the government’s own impartial experts disagree. This is a terrible way to govern, but great news for special interests.”


OK, so who is going to challenge this? First the presidential signing statements, now this executive order. What person or agency is going to bring this before the Supreme Court?

[tmooses]

3. We sure can't have scientific experts getting in the way of

Bush's rule changing. Let's see now. Who do the EPA's and OSHA's lack of protection affect the most? How about working people who are about to get screwed by these criminals for the umpteenth time.

[poverlay]

4. This is unacceptable. They must be stopped. This cabal and their fear driven

cabbages must be slapped down. They are turning this country into a laughing-stock.

[alfredo]

5. We need the wisdom of Thorax

Make sure everybody on your mailing list gets this article. Make sure the media pays attention to this power grab. He's putting minders in each department. So Soviet of him.