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News

A Year for Failure: Regulatory Policy News in 2007 12/18/2007
In 2007, new regulatory policies and the inability of federal agencies to protect the public made headlines more so than at any time in recent memory. Four themes dominated regulatory policy this year: an increase in White House influence over agency rulemaking activity and discretion, which added a perception of more political manipulation; the inability of the federal government to protect the public by ensuring the safety of imported goods; the voice of some industry groups calling for regulation; and the Bush administration's refusal to regulate in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, as in the case of climate change. At best, government has attempted to respond to crises instead of getting ahead of the curve. This has left the public uncertain about whether we can count on our government to provide adequate safeguards. Read More

White House Rejects Krill Protection Rule 11/20/2007
The White House has rejected an effort by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to protect krill, an important marine species abundant in the Pacific Ocean. NOAA's proposed rule is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting krill in the future but was rejected by White House officials for failing to identify a need for the regulation. Read More

Recess Appointment Makes Dudley Head of White House Regulatory Policy Office 04/17/2007
On April 4, President George W. Bush used a recess appointment to make Susan Dudley the head of the White House's regulatory policy office. Dudley's new position will afford her great power over the federal regulatory process. The appointment comes despite strident opposition from public interest groups concerned about her views on regulation. The recess appointment of Dudley, along with that of other controversial officials, has also provoked anger in the Senate and raised questions about the constitutionality of the method. Read More

Bush Recess Appointment Threatens Public Protections 04/04/2007
WASHINGTON, April 4, 2007—President George W. Bush today installed Susan Dudley as White House regulatory czar through a recess appointment. Dudley will now serve in the White House Office of Management and Budget as administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Read More

Bush Continues Anti-Regulatory Efforts with Industry Nominee to CPSC 03/06/2007
In nominating Michael E. Baroody Mar. 1 to be chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), President Bush demonstrated yet another example since the 2006 elections of his efforts to slow down or roll back government regulation. CPSC is the independent regulatory agency charged with protecting the public against injury and death from a wide range of consumer products. Read More

Media, Congress Begin to Examine Bush's Executive Order on Regulatory Process 02/06/2007
President George W. Bush's Executive Order amending the regulatory process in significant ways didn't immediately garner the attention one might have expected from the mainstream media and Congress. The order set in motion changes that could further delay or hinder public health, safety, environmental, and civil rights protections. It was issued by the White House, with a press release, Jan. 18, and only OMB Watch and Public Citizen rang the alarm bells, calling attention to changes that give OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) even broader powers over agency actions. Read More

Dudley Renominated to Head OMB Regulatory Office 01/10/2007
President Bush renominated Susan Dudley on Jan. 9 to be administrator of OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Dudley was nominated to the same position in 2006, but the Senate failed to confirm her due to intense opposition from public interest organizations and a lack of support for her nomination in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC). Read More

OIRA Back Door Open to Dudley? 01/09/2007
Susan Dudley is likely to be named as a senior consultant in OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), according to a BNA story published Jan. 8. If true, Dudley would be in a position to influence OIRA decisions about regulations across all government agencies. Dudley was nominated by President Bush in 2006 to be the administrator of OIRA to replace John Graham, who resigned in February of that year. Thanks to widespread opposition from the public interest community, Capitol Hill, and individuals, the Senate failed to hold a vote on her nomination before the end of the 109th Congress because she lacked sufficient support in committee.

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Collins Decides Not to Seek Vote on Dudley 12/06/2006
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced Dec. 6 that she would not seek a vote in committee on the controversial nomination of Susan Dudley to be the next regulatory czar. In a news report, Collins, chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said that there was little time left in the 109th Congress to act, and Democratic opposition made the vote impractical. Read More

Senate Committee Set to Vote on Dudley for Regulatory Czar 11/21/2006
The Senate is likely to vote in December on the nomination of Susan Dudley to be the new regulatory czar, according to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Despite widespread criticism from the public interest community on the nomination, a confirmation hearing in which Dudley evaded disclosing much about her views, and new concerns about a perception of a conflict regarding her husband serving as head of an office that writes environmental regulations, it appears that Collins's committee will move forward with the nomination. Read More

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