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Tuesday, July 03, 2007

House Moves to Curb Bush Regulatory Power Grab

Last week, the House passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill (HR 2829). The bill contains an amendment which would forbid the White House from expending any funds in implementing President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process.

The amendment, offered by Reps. Brad Miller (D-NC) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA) states, "None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement Executive Order 13422." E.O. 13422 amended E.O. 12866 which governs the White House regulatory review process.

The appropriations bill funds the entire Executive Office of the President. Therefore, this amendment would stop the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) from expending any money in carrying out the E.O. Most notably, OIRA would not be allowed to review agency guidance documents.

OMB Watch has criticized E.O. 13422 for stealing power away from agency experts and further politicizing the regulatory process. (Read more here.) House members did the right thing by voting to stop the White House's attempt to consolidate even more power within its walls.

House Balks at Bush Order on Regulations [AP via Washington Post]