Never Give Up, Never Surrender

cofax7

Back to politics: if you want something else to get upset about, the Senate is voting soon on the Regulatory Accountability Act, which is a bald-faced attempt to cripple environmental and workplace protections for American workers and residents. Check out that chart! My one consolation is that it's so onerous that it will be just as difficult for the Trump administration to roll back regulations they don't like as it will be to pass ones that would do good in the world.

I know this is boring, but the Administrative Procedure Act is one of the most important laws we have: it gives citizens and interest groups the right to participate in the rule-making process, and to challenge government actions that are complete bullshit. This is the law that lets Earthjustice and the Center for Biological Diversity sue the federal government for not protecting endangered species, or failing to regulate for climate change. It's vital to administrative transparency.

The new amendment would:
1. Require agencies to choose the lowest-cost alternative (cost to whom? I wonder);
2. Forbid courts from deferring to federal agencies' scientific expertise;
3. Impose an absurdly baroque system for implementing any regulations; and
4. Tilt the playing field in favor of big-money corporate interests rather than the public good.

Call, fax, email, or text your Senators. This is likely to pass without much public attention, and it's really fucking important.

S. 951, The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017. Watch for it.