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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

More OMB Manipulation of Climate Science

As Reg•Watch blogged earlier, the Government Accountability Project released a report detailing Bush administration political interference in climate science. The report includes evidence of manipulation by OMB.

For example, the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is supposed to be a clearinghouse for accurate and up-to-date climate science produced by agencies. Unfortunately for the American people, OMB is one of the overseers of CCSP.

According to the GAP report, OMB and other political offices sit on a panel that must approve CCSP communications. The panel has approved startlingly little information.

It is worth noting that since 2004, CCSP has cautiously produced and posted on its website only five fact sheets and two research summaries, all ranging from two to four pages in length. It issued eight press releases — three of which were administrative announcements — and held one workshop on November 14-16, 2005. Furthermore, with the exception of three press releases, CCSP has not produced any new material as of January 2006.

That's not much product from a staff of 14. (Current staff-level according to CCSP website).

Posted by Matt Madia, 02:31:50 PM

OMB Manipulates Climate Science Communication

Yesterday, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) released a report on the organization's year-long investigation into political manipulation of federal climate science. The report focuses on how Bush administration politicos interfere in climate scientists' communications with the media and Congress.

The report accuses OMB of participating in the manipulation. In one instance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was preparing formal responses to questions posed during a Senate hearing on climate change. OMB reviewed the draft and inserted text which "attributed global warming to increasing water vapor, in reliance on a quote taken out of context from a scientific paper." The text was finally removed, but not until the paper's author intervened.

Water vapor?!? That kind of logic wouldn't fly in a junior-high earth science class, let alone the United States Senate. Stay tuned as Reg•Watch posts more examples of OMB interference uncovered in GAP's eye-opening report.

Posted by Matt Madia, 11:11:13 AM

Monday, March 26, 2007

Dudley May Return to the Hill for Confirmation Hearing

OMB Watch has learned a Senate panel may formally reconsider the long dormant nomination of Susan Dudley to become the White House's regulatory czar. Dudley — whose 2006 nomination stalled in the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) — could reappear before that committee if Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-CT) pushes forward.

In 2006, President Bush nominated Dudley to be administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within OMB. Dudley blindly opposes any form of government regulation regardless of its potential benefit to society, thus making her an illogical choice to head the office which reviews the rules agencies develop. Because of this, public interest groups opposed Dudley's nomination, and a Republican-controlled HSGAC did not think it a high enough priority to address last fall.

Never to be discouraged by the opinion of the people he governs, Bush renominated Dudley in January. A day later, Bush named Dudley a senior advisor in OIRA.

If HSGAC decides to reexamine Dudley's record, we certainly hope they will realize she is not fit for the position and reject her nomination. If not, we expect Bush to appoint her during a Congressional recess this year. Stay tuned to Reg•Watch for more.

For the full story on Dudley, check out Public Citizen and OMB Watch's report The Cost Is Too High.

Posted by Matt Madia, 04:46:41 PM

Friday, March 23, 2007

Markey Speaks out on Fuel Economy

Grist, an environmental news and commentary website, has conducted an interesting interview with Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA). Among other issues, Markey addresses his proposal to raise CAFE standards — the federal rule that governs passenger vehicle fuel efficiency. Markey discusses the prospects for passage of his bill, and ties President Bush's failure to strengthen American fuel economy to his failed Iraq strategy.

Better Off Ed, from Grist.

Posted by Matt Madia, 10:33:13 AM

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Latest Watcher

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time:

Mine Safety Concerns Remain after Sago

Leaders of Finance Committee Respond to IRS Outsourcing Program

Economic Research Suffers in Bush Proposed Budget

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.

Posted by Matt Madia, 11:36:48 AM

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

House Presses Bush Officials on Political Interference in Climate Science

As Reg•Watch blogged yesterday, a House committee held a hearing to investigate the Bush administration's manipulation of government climate science. The hearing was the second by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to examine political interference in climate science.

Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) called the first hearing after the White House Council on Environmental Quality's refused to turn over documents the committee had requested. In his opening remarks, Waxman said CEQ has turned over eight boxes but has not yet fulfilled the months old request. Still, the evidence the committee has seen "suggests there may have been a concerted effort directed by the White House to mislead the public about the dangers of global climate change."

The testimony of Philip Cooney was nothing to write home about. Cooney was CEQ chief of staff (in between stints at the American Petroleum Institute and Exxon-Mobil) until 2005. He resigned after it was discovered he had altered climate science documents to plant seeds of doubt.

Not surprisingly, Cooney claimed his actions were completely justified and cited a National Academies of Science report as his basis. The committee quickly shot holes through his defense. Waxman pressed Cooney on a verbatim quote from the NAS report he had completely removed. The sentence indicated the breadth and severity of climate change.

Read more from The New York Times

Posted by Matt Madia, 09:55:17 AM

Monday, March 19, 2007

Political Interference in Climate Science

Today, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing investigating the integrity of climate science in the Bush administration. The hearing will feature testimony from James Connaughton, the chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Phillip Cooney, the former administration official who blatantly altered scientific findings to match the White House's distorted view of global climate change.

The hearing is the second in a series, the first of which uncovered numerous incidences of political interference in the work of government climate scientists.

Reg•Watch will post a recap in the near future. In the meantime, you can watch the hearing live here.

Posted by Matt Madia, 09:49:23 AM

Thursday, March 15, 2007

OMB Watch Releases Report on Bush Changes to Regulatory Process

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

Friday, March 09, 2007

High-profile Opposition to Bush Regulatory Changes

The Environmental Forum, a bimonthly publication of the Environmental Law Institute, has published six opinions pieces on President Bush's changes to the regulatory process. The magazine features three opinions in favor of the changes and three opposed, including a piece by OMB Watch Executive Director Gary Bass.

Of particular concern is the opinion of John G. Knepper, Deputy General Counsel of OMB. One new amendment requires agency Regulatory Policy Officers (RPO) be presidential appointees. Knepper argues this will make those officials more accountable to Congress and the public. But the Executive Order does not require the Senate to approve the RPO. Knepper, presumably involved in the drafting of the changes, should be more forthright in his argument.

In opposition, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) reinforced the common conclusion that the White House — in the face of an opposition Congress — is attempting in its last two years to leave an anti-regulatory legacy. Waxman articulates the underhanded Bush tactic with a great simile:

"Like a retreating army that mines the road behind it, the Bush administration is erecting new barriers to prevent commonsense safeguards from advancing in the next administration."

Posted by Matt Madia, 11:26:15 AM

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Latest Watcher

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Regulatory policy articles this time:

Bush Continues Anti-Regulatory Efforts with Industry Nominee to CPSC

Scientific Consultant Sparks Controversy over Conflicts of Interest

In Congress, No Shortage of Fuel Economy Proposals

Friday, March 02, 2007

Bush Nominates Manufacturing Ally to CPSC

Thursday, President Bush nominated Michael Baroody to be a commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Baroody is the current executive vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers, a trade group whose mission includes "shaping a legislative and regulatory environment" on behalf of manufacturers.

Baroody's ability to shape America's regulatory environment will take on new meaning if he becomes a CPSC commissioner. The CPSC is the independent agency charged with protecting the public from dangerous products. The commissioners (of which there are only three) must be able to work with manufacturers to assess product safety, but also exert authority when industry cooperation does not go far enough in protecting the public.

If you think a commissioner with such obvious strong ties to the industry he must regulate is a bad idea, you are not alone. Public interest groups are already sounding the alarms, and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) says she will give the nomination "thorough scrutiny," according to the LA Times.

As Reg•Watch has blogged in the past, the CPSC has been short a commissioner since July, and its voting quorum recently expired. I find it depressing to have to contemplate which is worse: a commissioner like Michael Baroody, or no commissioner at all.

Posted by Matt Madia, 10:39:47 AM

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Latest Developments on Bush Changes to the Regulatory Process

OMB Watch has created a new web center to be the one-stop source for news and developments on President Bush's recent amendments to Executive Order 12866. The web center will be frequently updated with fresh insights, news from Capitol Hill, and links to media coverage.

Public Citizen Urges Congress to Make Cars Safer for Kids

Yesterday, Joan Claybrook, president of the public interest group Public Citizen, testified before a Senate subcommittee on vehicle safety for children. Claybrook urged Congress and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to improve vehicle safety in an effort to reduce the number of children killed in vehicle related accidents — currently about five per day.

Claybrook also chided the Bush administration for renominating Susan Dudley to be the White House's regulatory czar. As OMB Watch has pointed out numerous times (here, here, and here), Dudley's views are not consistent with those of the public and her installation would likely cause unprecedented rollbacks in health and safety regulations.

Read more about Claybrook's testimony here.

Posted by Matt Madia, 09:48:42 AM

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