The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is looking to shift its regulatory strategy in response to an April explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia that killed 29 miners.

Some agencies under the Obama administration have energetically laid out a clear rulemaking agenda, while others have been stymied by a variety of factors, according to a new OMB Watch report. The report, The Obama Approach to Public Protection: Rulemaking, was released today and evaluates the regulatory activity of several environmental, worker safety, and consumer protection agencies within the federal government.

The Senate yesterday confirmed Elisabeth Hagen to serve as the USDA’s undersecretary for food safety. Hagen began serving in the position, which leads the department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), after Obama recess appointed her Aug. 19. Obama renominated Hagen Sept. 13.

Tomorrow at 9 AM, the Senate Budget Committee will be holding a hearing on Jack Lew, President Obama's nominee for Director of Office of Management and Budget, a position which has been open since Peter Orszag stepped down in late July. I'm expecting most of the questions posed to Lew will revolve around debt/deficit issues, since, during his time as President Clinton's last OMB director, he was the last director to oversee a budget surplus.