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Friday, March 09, 2007

High-profile Opposition to Bush Regulatory Changes

The Environmental Forum, a bimonthly publication of the Environmental Law Institute, has published six opinions pieces on President Bush's changes to the regulatory process. The magazine features three opinions in favor of the changes and three opposed, including a piece by OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass.

Of particular concern is the opinion of John G. Knepper, Deputy General Counsel of OMB. One new amendment requires agency Regulatory Policy Officers (RPO) be presidential appointees. Knepper argues this will make those officials more accountable to Congress and the public. But the Executive Order does not require the Senate to approve the RPO. Knepper, presumably involved in the drafting of the changes, should be more forthright in his argument.

In opposition, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) reinforced the common conclusion that the White House — in the face of an opposition Congress — is attempting in its last two years to leave an anti-regulatory legacy. Waxman articulates the underhanded Bush tactic with a great simile:

"Like a retreating army that mines the road behind it, the Bush administration is erecting new barriers to prevent commonsense safeguards from advancing in the next administration."