Citizen Health & Safety

Sneak Preview: OMB Delays Guidance Documents

May 8, 2007 by Matthew Madia

By now, we all know President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process will further bottleneck federal regulatory policy in an attempt to help regulated industries escape new obligations. Specifically, changes regarding agency guidance documents will force those interpretive memos (often only suggestions) through a burdensome and unnecessary White House review process.

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I Want My Reg Watch in Review!

May 7, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Reg•Watch in Review is a biweekly e-newsletter highlighting recent news from the world of regulatory policy. By signing up for Reg•Watch in Review, you will receive convenient updates on White House regulatory policy, scientific integrity, agency rulemakings and much more. (Click here to see the latest issue.) Just fill in your email address and name below, and you will soon receive Reg•Watch in Review in your inbox. Email Address: * First Name: * Last Name: *

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In the Senate, Unlikely Allies on CAFE Reform

May 4, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Congressional Quarterly (subscription) is reporting the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will move forward with an ambitious proposal to improve vehicle fuel economy. The legislation, scheduled for mark-up next week, would reform the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard by increasing to 35 from 27.5 the miles per gallon ratio for all passenger vehicles.

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Latest Watcher

May 2, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time: OSHA's Lack of Standard Setting under Fire White House Tightens Grip on Regulatory Power Grab House Subcommittee Steps Up Oversight on Regulatory Changes

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MacDonald out, but Scientific Integrity Concerns Remain

May 2, 2007 by Matthew Madia

In March, Reg•Watch blogged about Julie MacDonald, one of the Bush administration's political minions who was manipulating environmental science to meet political ends. Yesterday, the Interior Department announced MacDonald's resignation. Interior is right to hold MacDonald accountable for her transgressions, but, as The New York Times reports, the move comes as the House Natural Resources Committee prepares to hold an oversight hearing next week on scientific integrity.

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OSHA's Lack of Standard Setting under Fire

This year's Workers Memorial Day, April 28, included criticism of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — the federal regulatory body charged with ensuring worker and workplace safety. On Capitol Hill and in the media, critics chided OSHA for not fulfilling its mission and falling behind in promulgating new standards to protect the American workforce.

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White House Tightens Grip on Regulatory Power Grab

The White House has released a memo instructing agencies on how to implement President George W. Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process. OMB Watch had anticipated the release of such a memo due to the need for clarification of certain controversial provisions within Bush's executive order. However, the memo offers little new information and further confounds issues in some areas.

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House Subcommittee Steps Up Oversight on Regulatory Changes

A House subcommittee held a second hearing April 26 on the regulatory changes President George W. Bush issued in January. Subcommittee Chairman Brad Miller (D-NC) hoped to discover the reasons that the White House issued the changes, but the hearing turned stormy as Miller's inquiries were repeatedly rebuffed by an administration official. After tense exchanges with the official, Miller promised to seek additional documents from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to hold additional hearings on regulatory changes "that affect the lives of millions of Americans."

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"Calling All Germane Amendments!": PDUFA Negotiation in the Senate

May 1, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Senate leaders on food and drug regulation continue to wrangle over provisions of the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). A Senate Committee reported PDUFA to the Senate floor two weeks ago. Because PDUFA expires in September, and because the funds it provides FDA are necessary for the agency to operate, the reauthorization legislation is considered a must pass. That makes it a golden opportunity for Senators to attach all sorts of additional provisions.

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Spring Unified Agenda Published

Apr 30, 2007 by Matthew Madia

The Federal Register has published the semi-annual Unified Regulatory Agenda. Browse today's issue to find the planned regulatory (or deregulatory) actions of your favorite federal agency! The Unified Regulatory Agenda is published twice a year in compliance with Executive Order 12866 — Regulatory Planning and Review. The Agenda includes prerules, proposed rules, final rules, and long-term rules as well as items completed or withdrawn since the last agenda period. For more background on the Agenda, click here. For OMB Watch's analysis of the last Agenda (Dec. 2006), click here.

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