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The Bush administration, ever so loyal to the business community,signed a directive which gives the government ( White house)more control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.
From The Washington Post < Original Article
January 30,2007
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: January 30, 2007
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. More
Once again we have the president still dishing out favors for his politically connected business who have to deal with government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Of course, the general counsel at the White house,Jeffrey A. Rosen said,“This is a classic good-government measure that will make federal agencies more open and accountable.”
Since when has any agency in the Bush administration been open or accountable?
