Are 75% of Americans Right?

A Chronological Review of

The Bush Appointistration's Policies

Courtesy of We Will Not Forget

April 6, 2001

 

"The political winds have shifted in Washington.

Along with arsenic, carbon dioxide and mining sludge,

add campaign contributions to the list of toxins

 endangering the public health."

- St. Louis Today 3/23/2001

Turns back the clock on safety standards that protect families from potentially life-threatening contamination such as listeria and food poisoning. Orders meat safety regulations put on hold within hours of taking office.

Delayed Clinton's executive order regulations on medical records privacy, with aim of weakening regulations to reflect insurance industry interests

Repealed ergonomic regulations to protect workers from repetitive stress injuries (originally proposed by Bush I Labor Secretary, Liddy Dole)

Passed bankruptcy bill lobbied for by credit card companies who peddle credit cards to teenagers

Advocated drilling for oil in the ecologically sensitive Alaska National Wildlife Refuge

Makes an example of a scientist who dared to map out wildlife habitats in ANWAR - fires him and scrubs his web page

Advocated tax bill that will give a big tax cut to the wealthiest people in the country; the wealthiest 1% of the country will receive 40% of the tax cut benefit.  Knowingly lies to the country about the budget and tax cut.

Enlists lobbyists to dress up in hard hats and pretend to be "working people" at tax cut photo-op

Refused to help out California energy crisis with a temporary federal price cap, even though there is evidence that the energy suppliers are price-gouging California consumers

Overturned Clinton administration rule, making it easier for industrial polluters to get government contracts by not holding them responsible for environmental damage. The government can no longer reject mining bids, even if they feel the project will cause irreparable harm.

A federal judge granted the Bush administration's request to halt processing of new claims for federal black lung benefits, so miners and their families will be delayed in receiving benefits.

Undercut labor and workers by intervening in the Northwest airline mechanics strike at a critical point in the negotiations.

FCC begins handing out licenses to solidify oligopolistic control of the media.

Proposes suspending new environmental regulations on hardrock mining that were imposed on President Clinton's last day in office, over industry objections.

Proposes opening up National Monuments for mining and oil exploration

Revokes a Clinton administration rule that would have reduced the acceptable level of arsenic in drinking water, arguing the evidence was not conclusive enough to justify the high cost to states, municipalities and industry of complying with the proposal.

Backed off on campaign promise to cap CO2 emissions, which contribute to global warming according to the world's top 700 scientists.  It is later learned this policy decision was routed through a Bush aide who lobbied for car exhaust firms.

Moved to lift Clinton's orders banning logging and road-building in about a third of the nation's national forests and reversed course on a campaign proposal to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant.

Reverses his campaign promise and stays mute as OPEC plans to cut oil production - uses the leverage to manufacuture scare tactics regarding the energy "crisis" and drill in ANWAR

Kick starts cold war with North Korea by implying they are not living up to "all agreements" (we only had one and there was no evidence NK was not abiding by it)

Intervenes with subterfuge to make sure McCain-Feingold never sees the light of day. Republicans try to drown the bill with amendments.

Nudges McCain out of the bipartisan Patient's Bill of Rights (five years in the making with universal support)  and substitutes the Breaux-Frist plan, which would expand access to health care but limit patients' rights to sue HMOs for malpractice. Promises to veto any Patient's bill but "his". (The bill is patterned after the Texas model, which Bush took credit for but in fact, fought and refused to sign. It was passed by the Texas Legislators)

The Supreme Court 5 (yeah, same ones) strikes down employees right to sue by giving employers the right to force worker arbitration. Justice John Paul Stevens (gotta love that guy!) writes a dissenting opinion in which he accuses the majority of "playing ostrich" to the legislative and historical context of the arbitration law and its consequences.

Bob Barr opens hearings into Clinton's executive orders that set aside millions of acres of pristine lands as national monuments.  Evidently frustrated at the fizzling of the "Pardon hearings", (outrageously distorted and nonfactual piling on Clinton, again) Barr yearns to bask in the Big Dog's limelight once again... (yawn).  Meanwhile, Joe Lieberman writes the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department and the Agriculture Department seeking information about their decisions to set aside Clinton administration regulations.  Says he is beginning an investigation into ``the method behind this madness, that is the decision-making process leading to these damaging actions.'' 3/22/2001

Decides to leave a bunch of children behind to finance tax cuts for the rich - Bush intends next month to propose cuts in programs to provide child care, to prevent child abuse  (then declares April, Child Abuse Prevention Month) and to train doctors at children's hospitals. The budget documents show that Mr. Bush is planning to eliminate all the money that Congress provided for an "early learning fund" to improve the quality of child care and education for children younger than 5.  3/22/2001

Blocked initiative to help protect salmon. Two federal agencies blocked a Clinton initiative to help save Pacific salmon.  (Where oh where will we find more salmon genes to splice into our tomatoes??) 3/22/01

Elaine Chao is just sick and tired of dealing with those sick nuclear workers.  Dying workers will face inevitable delays in compensation.  More compassionate conservatism at work. 3/23/2001

Care for a game of Monopoly?  Bush will nominate leading critic of Clinton's anti-trust policies to head the Federal Trade Commision. 3/23/2001

Viacom purchases Black Entertainment Television. First order of business: Fire Tavis Smiley. After leading a successful campaign against the GOPs attacks on Black Colleges (see First 60 Days above), Smiley was almost as dangerous as, well, Jesse Jackson to the right-wingers.  3/23/2001

Uses stealth legal maneuvering to overturn the Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation Rule, previously enacted by the Clinton administration to protect 58.5 million acres of National Forest from road construction and logging. 3/24/2001

Mobilizes the White House troops to oppose a ban on soft money, while "officially" supporting it - again, courtesy of the Karl Rove double-dealing propaganda machine.3/24/2001

Europe declares Bush, "Nature's Worst Enemy." (we couldn't agree more) 3/25/2001

Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill (one of the many corporate millionaires in the Bush's Administration) finally caves in to pressure and decides to sell his $100 million dollars worth of Alcoa stock. Seems perplexed that the issue of 'conflict of interest' was "ongoing".  (his confusion is understandable.. this is, afterall, the 'oil and gas' administration) 

The White House scrubs vital public information regarding ANWAR from government web sites.

The Forest Service Chief (a major proponent of saving old growth forests and the roadless policy) steps down over Bush policies. Timber lobbyists say they will return the position to a "resource professional". 3/27/2001

Bush signals his intent to withdraw U.S. signature from the global warming treaty, signed in Kyoto, Japan in 1997. Christy Whitman, who earlier pleaded with Bush to "appear engaged" regarding U.S. committment to combat global warming (read her letter to Bush), now stands firmly behind him stating, "The Kyoto Treaty is dead." 3/28/2001

Rescinds a Clinton administration proposal to increase public access to information about the potential consequences of chemical plant accidents. Sites "national security" issues as reason to keep the public 'deaf and dumb'. 3/28/2001

A Republican lawmaker urged the Bush administration to consider exploring for oil, natural gas, and coal in a half-dozen U.S. national monuments declared by former President Clinton after a government agency said the sites may contain ``high'' or ``moderate'' amounts of fuel. 3/28/2001

Let them drink arsenic ! Bush spokesperson announces the "pResident" will hold NO FORMAL NEWS CONFERENCES. Says he doesn't think the people "give a whit". 3/28/2001

Places Diana Furchtgott-Roth, a conservative economist who says there is no gender gap in pay, in a top position at the Council of Economic Advisers. (read her "equal pay" rant) 3/28/2001

Appoints Kay Coles James, (an anti-choice, anti-gambling activist from the Heritage Foundation) who opposes affirmative action, to direct the Office of Personnel Management and oversee labor and discrimination rules within the federal work force. James wants to limit the definition of "rape" and states that "women should be responsible for their own behavior". 3/28/2001

Gale Norton sends out letters to state officials asking for suggestions for opening up national monuments for oil, drilling, coal mining and foresting. 3/29/2001

Asian groups and governments slam Bush over backing away from Kyoto global warming treaty calling it,"the most serious environmental policy crisis in years." This comes four days after European countries declared Bush, "nature's worst enemy." 3/29/2001

Ordered the suspension of a Clinton rule that would have significantly strengthened the government's ability to deny contracts to companies that have violated workplace safety, environmental and other federal laws. 3/31/2001

European Labour MPs call for international boycott of US products in response to Bush's "lethal threat to the environment". 4/1/2001

Dick Cheney, who has no trouble buying medication for his ailing heart with his millions from Haliburton, steps onto the Senate floor to VOTE DOWN an amendment to Bu$h's budget that would have increased prescription drug coverage for seniors. His rich buddys still need that tax cut - Dow and Nasdaq tanked again today the minute Bu$h opened his mouth about China. 4/3/2001

The "uninsured" also get left behind. Bush's budget will cut 86% out of the budget for community access programs. White House responds these programs will be "phased out". Perhaps Bu$h will advocate "faith-based prayer" for poor, sick people. 4/3/2001

Announces plans to stop salmonella testing on the beef served to children in the nation's schools after lobbying by the meat industry. Officials say that "zero Samonella policy" is not "scientifically justified". Says they will "irradiate" the meat instead. (I guess they figure the arsenic in the water will kill the bacteria?) 4/4/2001

After public outcry, White House backs off on plan to stop salmonella testing. 4/5/2001

Oil giant Chevron decides to name an OIL TANKER after Nat'l Security Adviser, Condoleeza Rice in honor of her former position as board member and stockholder.  The Oil and Gas Administration strikes again. 4/5/2001

Axes the Clinton/Gore alternative energy  research and energy efficiency program. This in the midst of our "energy crisis". 4/6/2001

Axes work training and outplacement programs for dislocated workers. 4/6/2001

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