NY Times: Bushists Steal Regulatory Power from Congress by Executive Order

[BurtWorm]

You thought the Onion was kidding?


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



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.

In an interview on Monday, Jeffrey A. Rosen, general counsel at the White House Office of Management and Budget, said, “This is a classic good-government measure that will make federal agencies more open and accountable.”

Business groups welcomed the executive order, saying it had the potential to reduce what they saw as the burden of federal regulations. This burden is of great concern to many groups, including small businesses, that have given strong political and financial backing to Mr. Bush.

Consumer, labor and environmental groups denounced the executive order, saying it gave too much control to the White House and would hinder agencies’ efforts to protect the public....

[salin]

1. They know they (buscho) is killing the GOP party - so lets try a new fundraising

effort - give the RNC enough money - and get to deregulate your favorite industry from the inside.

Just saying....

[C_U_L8R]

2. god god - shut the white house down

they are absolutely out of control.

Congress... you have a duty to fulfill here.

[HereSince1628]

3. Ideological power grab. Mark this as a significant step in the demise

of the Federal government.

This setting aside of expertise in favor of ideology maybe a Reagan era dream, but it will ruin
our civilization.

I don't expect this to have any better outcome than Lysenko's genetics had for Soviet agriculture.

The impact of anti-regulatory extremism will end up looking bad. Very bad. Deregulation in the interest of profiteering will be a terribly cruel master.

[tanyev]

4. They must really believe that Republicans will still be in the White House

after 2008. Can you imagine the GOP outrage if a Democratic president were pulling crap like this?

[BurtWorm]

6. I actually think they're not expecting a Republican to be in the WH

which is why they're doing what they're doing. Trying to create as much damage to the Legislative Branch as possible before they have to hand over the reins.

[mmonk]

5. This dictatorship stuff has to stop.

Demand an end to it by contacting your "representatives".

[TZ]

7. I don't think they can do anything anymore

Bushies little flunkies in Congress (many of whom aren't there anymore) made sure of that. Really the little monster thinks nobody else is qualified to do anything apparantly but him. :grr: :grr: :grr:

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. You KNOW someone put him up to this.

Bush isn't smart enough to figure this out for himself. How in the Federalist Society, do you think, gave him the advice?