Citizen Health & Safety | Center for Effective Government

Recess Appointment Makes Dudley Head of White House Regulatory Policy Office

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.

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Courts Rebuke Bush Administration's Forest Actions

On April 6, the Bush administration appealed the first of two recent federal district court decisions that held the U.S. Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act when it overturned the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and rewrote forest management plans.

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EPA Punts on Perchlorate...Again

Apr 13, 2007 by Matthew Madia

EPA has once again delayed developing a standard for perchlorate in drinking water. Perchlorate, an ingredient in rocket fuel, can detrimentally effect the human hormonal system even in low doses. Sen. Barbara Boxer, whose support for perchlorate regulation is unimpeachable, is perturbed with EPA's decision, or lack thereof. In a statement, Boxer said, "I am outraged that EPA has yet again refused to do its duty to protect the health of our families and communities from perchlorate pollution." For more info on the EPA decision, read NRDC's press release.

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More Recess Appointments on the Horizon?

Apr 12, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Sam•Fox (sam' foks') vt. 1. To install by recess appointment shortly after pretending to be cooperative by withdrawing a nomination. Yesterday, the White House withdrew the names of two controversial officials nominated for posts in the EPA. Environmentalists criticized the nominations of both William Wehrum and Alex A. Beehler, and neither nominee appeared to enjoy support among Senate Democrats.

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OIRA: "Freakonomics to the 10th Power"

Apr 12, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Yesterday, the Senate Appropriation Committee held a hearing to examine the budget of the White House Office of Management and Budget (not the federal budget, but the budget of OMB itself). During the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) questioned OMB Director Rob Portman on a number of issues.

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Scientific Consensus on Smog Standard: Will EPA Listen?

Apr 10, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Once every five years, EPA is required by law to revise the national standards for ground-level ozone, a.k.a. smog. As the agency prepares its revisions, another scientific body has urged EPA to tighten the standard. In a letter to EPA administrator Stephen Johnson, a group of 111 medical scientists called for tighter rules on smog, according to BNA news service (subscription). The scientists point out the current standard allows exposures which can cause serious adverse health effects.

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Dudley on the Editorial Pages

Apr 6, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Susan Dudley's recess appointment is the subject of editorials in this morning's Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Let's compare and contrast.

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Lieberman Unhappy with Bush Choice to Bypass Senate on Dudley

Apr 5, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Yesterday, President Bush recess appointed Susan Dudley to be the White House's regulatory czar. The announcement comes just days after Senate members indicated they would consider the Dudley nomination in the normal fashion. Sen. Joe Lieberman isn't happy with the president's blatant disregard for checks and balances. Lieberman chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Government Reform Committee, which was responsible for Dudley's confirmation. A spokeswoman for Lieberman, Leslie Phillips, released the following statement: The Administration's decision to recess appoint Susan Dudley shows

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Bush Recess Appointment Threatens Public Protections

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).

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Meet Your New OIRA Administrator, Susan Dudley

Apr 4, 2007 by Matthew Madia

President Bush just 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). Dudley is a triple threat when it comes to the federal regulatory process.

First, she is ideologically opposed to regulation of any kind. She is likely to roll back countless public protections, and will be loath to support any new rulemakings.

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