Look what that little fucker bush is going to do in the last weeks of his putrid administration

[cali]

A Last Push To Deregulate
White House to Ease Many Rules


» The White House is working to enact a wide array of federal regulations, many of which would weaken government rules aimed at protecting consumers and the environment, before President Bush leaves office in January.

The new rules would be among the most controversial deregulatory steps of the Bush era and could be difficult for his successor to undo. Some would ease or lift constraints on private industry, including power plants, mines and farms.

Those and other regulations would help clear obstacles to some commercial ocean-fishing activities, ease controls on emissions of pollutants that contribute to global warming, relax drinking-water standards and lift a key restriction on mountaintop coal mining.


Once such rules take effect, they typically can be undone only through a laborious new regulatory proceeding, including lengthy periods of public comment, drafting and mandated reanalysis.

"They want these rules to continue to have an impact long after they leave office," said Matthew Madia, a regulatory expert at OMB Watch, a nonprofit group critical of what it calls the Bush administration's penchant for deregulating in areas where industry wants more freedom. He called the coming deluge "a last-minute assault on the public . . . happening on multiple fronts."

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said: "This administration has taken extraordinary measures to avoid rushing regulations at the end of the term. And yes, we'd prefer our regulations stand for a very long time -- they're well reasoned and are being considered with the best interests of the nation in mind."

As many as 90 new regulations are in the works, and at least nine of them are considered "economically significant" because they impose costs or promote societal benefits that exceed $100 million annually. They include new rules governing employees who take family- and medical-related leaves, new standards for preventing or containing oil spills, and a simplified process for settling real estate transactions.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/30/AR2008103004749.html

[NeedleCast]

1. Trying to Set Obama up for failure

[dkofos]

2. I will allow Obama to use a signing statement to these new rules.

[cali]

3. signing statements are for legislation passed through the congress

read the whole article and discover how difficult these poisonous rules will be to reverse.

[dkofos]

6. He can change that rule too.

bush spent the last 8 years making up the rules as he went along
screwing up the country. Now it's our turn.

[cali]

7. no, sorry. I don't think he can.

[Ilsa]

4. Bastards. Trying to get everyone off their priorities when they have

to spend time undoing Bush's nasty last minute work.

[Ilsa]

5. How can we get this crap stopped? nt

[rebel with a cause]

13. Obama had 5,000 lawyers that were not needed

(at least I don't think they were) very much during the election, maybe they could be of service now. :shrug:

[Imagevision]

8. I'll wait to eventually hear a response from the Obama camp - Wapo- opinionated peace

[ThomWV]

9. They post a "New Rule" to revise Bush's horseshit back to pre-Bush and then wait 90 days

Address the comments and then put the old rules back into force. If the old rules were relaxed at Agency initiative then they can be reinstated the same way. Obama need only instruct his Secretaries to immediately publish the proposed rule bringing regulation back and then expidite the procedure, which is done all the time.

[Swede Atlanta]

10. Not so fast....

If they say many of these measures require a lengthy process but can be enacted as a regulation, pursuant to a validly enacted statute, then there must be some means to undo the harm. If these are regulations that don't require approval outside of the Executive branch then Obama should simply say that all regulations enacted between November X and January 20 are hereby suspended pending review.

Oh and I hope Obama lets Shrubie fly home in his own airplane. No more federal money needs to be wasted on that loser. I'm only sorry we are obligated to provide protection for him at a significant cost to taxpayers. I wish him no ill but I don't like having to pay for his security. He has lots of money, he can hire Blackwater, a company he just gets a hardon for, to protect him. I'm sure he gets more turned on by the thought of those Blackwater operatives than his wife. Sorry for the rant.

[kestrel91316]

11. I predicted this. It's called "poisoning the well". And it will seal Bush's fate.

He will be forever known as Bush the Poisoner. So mote it be.

[Mike 03]

12. Asolutely Despicable. You'd think he would at least want to make a last-ditch effort to

save face. But he's just cashing in.

What a sorry, sorry legacy he leaves for himself and his party.

K&R

[qwlauren35]

14. So, once again, Congress can't block this bullsh*t?

What do we pay them for????

[cali]

15. no, sorry. Congress has no authority here.

[Jim Lane]

18. Congress DOES have authority

Agency rulemaking is always done pursuant to a statute enacted by Congress. Congress can just change the statute. By stating more precisely what it wants, Congress can remove the agency's power to do something contrary.

[yodermon]

19. ...which has to be signed into law by shithead. no? n/t

[riverdeep]

16. Stark contrast to Bush tear filled going away party huh?

I'll say it again, he's a sociopath. Human emotion is a game to him. A strange facsimile he doesn't quite understand.

Bill Clinton did something similar, except he acted too late. Since it was within the time period of turning over the legislation, that's exactly what Bush did. And he learned from that, act early. By the time Obama gets into office, it'll be too late to overturn them through normal means. But you won't hear this talked about anywhere except Olbermann and Maddow. The rest are too busy with the superficials of dynasty change, like what kind of drapes Michelle will bring in.

[Shoelace]

17. Obama is a Constitional attorney isn't he? He'll find a way

to gut these executive orders. I'd bet money on it. God how I wish they'd have impeached that bastard!!!