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Obama should undo Bush’s 11th-hour rules


POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 14, 2008

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THE ISSUE

President Bush is approving executive orders designed to extend his administration's policies beyond the end of his term.

EXECUTIVE powers exist independently of Congress and President Bush has used them extensively, often to institute controversial or partisan measures without facing opposition. President-elect Barack Obama's transition team has identified 200 or so administrative actions and executive orders as potential policies to reverse and Obama should not be shy about doing so.

High on the list is Bush's order early in his administration to limit federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that rendered stem cell lines impractical for research. He later vetoed a bill that would have expanded federal funding of stem cell research, and Obama is expected to quickly achieve that result with the stroke of his pen.

Also worthy of reversal is Bush's executive-order prohibition of aid to international family planning groups that counsel women about the availability of abortion, including those in countries where abortion is legal. The ban was initiated by former President Ronald Reagan, rescinded when Bill Clinton became president in 1993 and reinstated by Bush upon taking office.

The list of orders to reverse is expanding in the final days of the Bush administration, along with new rules and rule changes. The Bureau of Land Management recently completed plans to expose pristine areas of Utah to oil and natural gas drilling, even though the amount of oil and gas in the region is insignificant.

Attempts to extend policies beyond a president's term are natural, as Bush recognized upon taking office, when he eliminated rules from the Clinton administration that had not yet taken effect. Now it's Obama's turn.

 

THE ISSUE

President Bush is approving executive orders designed to extend his administration's policies beyond the end of his term.
EXECUTIVE powers exist independently of Congress and President Bush has used them extensively, often to institute controversial or partisan measures without facing opposition. President-elect Barack Obama's transition team has identified 200 or so administrative actions and executive orders as potential policies to reverse and Obama should not be shy about doing so.

High on the list is Bush's order early in his administration to limit federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that rendered stem cell lines impractical for research. He later vetoed a bill that would have expanded federal funding of stem cell research, and Obama is expected to quickly achieve that result with the stroke of his pen.

Also worthy of reversal is Bush's executive-order prohibition of aid to international family planning groups that counsel women about the availability of abortion, including those in countries where abortion is legal. The ban was initiated by former President Ronald Reagan, rescinded when Bill Clinton became president in 1993 and reinstated by Bush upon taking office.

The list of orders to reverse is expanding in the final days of the Bush administration, along with new rules and rule changes. The Bureau of Land Management recently completed plans to expose pristine areas of Utah to oil and natural gas drilling, even though the amount of oil and gas in the region is insignificant.

Attempts to extend policies beyond a president's term are natural, as Bush recognized upon taking office, when he eliminated rules from the Clinton administration that had not yet taken effect. Now it's Obama's turn.

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