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Kerry, John

Bush Administration's Anti-Regulatory Agenda Puts Americans' Health and Safety at Risk

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the 2004 presidential election heats up, the Kerry-Edwards campaign has been drawing attention to the Bush administration's radical anti-regulatory agenda, which has put the health and safety of working families at risk. George W. Bush has turned his back on the middle class, shifting the tax burden to the working poor and implementing policies that benefit corporate interests over the public interest. This includes rolling back and eliminating crucial regulations aimed at protecting the health and safety of workers and families.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bush administration has taken the most aggressive anti-regulatory posture in memory, weakening regulations aimed at protecting workers and families. (Washington Post, 8/15/04)
  • The coal mining industry has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Bush-Cheney campaign, and George Bush has received over $300,000 from the mining industry. (http://www.crp.org; Public Citizen; New York Times, 8/9/04)
  • The Bush administration has eliminated regulations that would have protected thousands of workers from tuberculosis. (Washington Post, 8/15/04)
  • George Bush has endangered pregnant women by deregulating semiconductor production, despite evidence suggesting a link to miscarriages. (Washington Post, 8/15/04)
  • The chemical industry has given over $1.5 million to the Bush-Cheney campaign and the RNC. Five members of the industry are Bush Pioneers and Rangers. (http://www.opensecrets.org; http://www.whitehouseforsale.org; http://www.commoncause.org)
  • The Bush Administration's Labor Department has provided guidance to employers on how to reduce overtime pay to workers, affecting 6 million hard-working men and women. (AP 1/5/04; http://www.epinet.org)
  • The Bush administration quietely eliminated proposed rules that would have protected thousands of workers from tuberculosis in 2003. (Washington Post, 8/15/04)

Statistics:

  • The Bush administration has eliminated nearly five times as many pending standards as it has completed, setting George W. Bush apart from the previous three presidents, including Ronald Reagan. (Washington Post, 8/15/04)
  • The coal industry has given over $300,000 to the Bush-Cheney campaign.
  • The chemical industry has given over $1.5 million to the Bush-Cheney campaign and the RNC.
  • 6 million hard-working men and women will be denied existing overtime protections under the Bush Administration's new regulation.
  • Bush received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the coal mining industry.
  • Lumber and timber industry gave over $3 million to the 2004 Bush-Cheney effort and $1 million in 2000.

Sources:

  • Washington Post, 8/15/04
  • New York Times, 8/9/04
  • http://www.crp.org
  • Public Citizen
  • http://www.opensecrets.org
  • http://www.whitehouseforsale.org
  • http://www.commoncause.org
  • AP 1/5/04
  • http://www.epinet.org
  • Washington Post, 1/31/04
  • http://www.tray.com
  • http://www.crp.org
  • http://www.usnewswire.com
  • Copyright (C) 2004, U.S. Newswire News Provided by COMTEX (http://www.comtexnews.com)

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