A report by EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) points out President Bush's budget request proposes a cut in funding devoted to economic research at EPA. In this case, the research is needed to develop cost-benefit analyses which in turn are needed to promulgate regulations. The proposed budget calls for a 58 percent cut in funding for what the report calls "Economics and Decision Sciences." EPA would consolidate offices and personnel to accomplish the cut. From the report: SAB is concerned that consolidation might actually decrease the amount of economics research at EPA and also impede the development of a high quality research portfolio in behavioral social and decision sciences. The White House consistently claims that economic factors should be paramount in the regulatory process, but this proposed cut belies their rhetoric. President Bush is not concerned with how regulations might improve the economic standing of the American people. He is only concerned with delaying regulations so that corporate interests will benefit.

Today, OMB Watch released a full report titled A Failure to Govern: Bush's Attack on the Regulatory Process (download it here). This report outlines President Bush's recent amendments to Executive Order 12866 — Regulatory Planning and Review. The report details the potential impacts the amendments will have on federal agencies and the American public, as well as what the changes mean to democracy at large. A Failure to Govern: Bush's Attack on the Regulatory Process

OMB Watch's Drs. Gary Bass and Rick Melberth have an op-ed posted on CommonDreams.org. The piece derides President Bush's recent changes to E.O. 12866: His actions ... set in motion changes that could further delay or hinder public health, safety, environmental, and civil rights protections. Read the whole thing here