[greenyes] Motives of Bush Administration Rule-Making Questioned

["Peter Anderson" <anderson@no.address>]

 SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/216007_regs15.html

Bush uses rule book to roll back protections
Easing hand of government -- or a payoff to corporations?

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

By CHARLES POPE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON -- Since taking office more than four years ago, the Bush 
administration has quietly pushed ahead with a broad, largely successful 
effort that has resulted in a major overhaul of protections to health, 
safety and the environment.

The strategy has been to use regulation, decree and rule making to achieve 
what Congress has blocked.

The White House says it is satisfying a campaign pledge to ease the hand of 
government from people and businesses. Critics insist it is nothing more 
than a payoff to corporate interests and campaign supporters.

The exercise is exemplified by new rules to be issued today by the 
Environmental Protection Agency on mercury emissions from power plants. The 
rules, which critics say are a boon to industry and shortchange 
environmental concerns, were part of legislation that was killed in a 
congressional committee just last week.

"They understand that what they're doing would violate the values of 80 
percent of the American population," Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., said of the 
strategy. "Most of these regulatory changes would not survive in Congress 
because the public will is against them."

The practice is not new -- previous administrations used the same tactic. 
But the Bush administration has raised it to new level, lobbyists, lawmakers 
and others said.

"We almost wax nostalgic about the Reagan years because this White House is 
so brazen and so bold," said Robert Shull, an analyst with OMB Watch, a 
non-partisan group promoting open and accountable government.

Officially, the White House initiative is supposed to help U.S. 
manufacturers stay competitive by weeding out regulations that are 
ineffective, duplicative or whose costs are greater than the benefits they 
provide.

But critics say the effort is nothing more than a "hit list" of regulations 
that have long been targets of business interests, including some of the 
most effective and tested measures that have protected millions of Americans 
at home, in the workplace and from environmental dangers.

_________________________
Peter Anderson, President
RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING
4513 Vernon Blvd. Suite 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Ph: (608) 231-1100
Fax: (608) 233-0011
Cell: (608) 698-1314
eMail: anderson@no.address
web: www.recycleworlds.net

         CONFIDENTIAL
This message, and all attachments thereto,
is covered by the Electronic Communications
Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C., Sections 2510-2521.
This message is CONFIDENTIAL. If you are
not the intended recipient of this message,
then any retention, dissemination, distribution
or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. Please notify me if you received
this message in error at anderson@no.address
and then delete it.