Questions re: Bush power grab

[nickyt]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30rules.ht...

The New York Times
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January 30, 2007
Bush Directive Increases Sway on Regulation
By ROBERT PEAR

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.



Question #1: Is there anything to stop him from "appointing" an Exxon pal to run the "regulatory policy office" of the EPA?

Question #2: Is there anything to stop him from "appointing" a coal-mining executive to run the "regulatory policy office" of OSHA?

Question #3: Remember the PBS special, "The Lost Year in Iraq", where a bunch of "political appointees" were given very cushy jobs over there in return for helping * get elected? (I don't have a copy of the show, this is just from my creaky memory). These "appointees" were clueless, and had no idea why they were there. SO, will he now have these punks appointed to all these "regulatory policy office"s?

I have been on edge since reading of this new directive last night. Question #4, am I over-reacting? Misunderstanding the implications of all this? I am a political numbnut ("clueless" will work!), and would appreciate your thoughts on this.

[leftofthedial]

1. there is virtually no regulatory process in any agency

under the bushturd's reign anyway

except for the NSA andother agencies that are spying on us

[Hosnon]

2. I think most agency heads must be confirmed by the Senate. Also, if Bush goes

too far with this power grab, Congress can simply legislate all of his authority out of the statutes (assuming enough to override a veto). Agencies exist as the result of Congressional acts.

[nickyt]

3. Thank you both for your responses, I will calm down now (a little). Thank you.