EPA recently released cost-benefit analysis of competing legislation to curb power plant emissions, including the President's Clear Skies legislation as well as legislation introduced by Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) and separate legislation introduce by Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE). The cost-benefit analysis showed that the President's Clear Skies bills perform no better than regulations already on the book. Furthermore, though the analysis predicts lower costs for the Clear Skies Act compared to competing legislation, it also predicts far fewer benefits.

Times apparently aren't good for workers in the post-Katrina aftermath. Most notably, of course, the White House waived Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements for contractors, until the political pressure became too much to bear. Almost immediately after the hurricane hit, the Bush administration also announced a slew of waivers of regulatory protections, including waiver of the already atrocious rules for the maximum number of hours trucking companies can force their drivers to work without rest. (That waiver has now expired.)