Executive Order 13422

On January 18, 2007, President Bush issued Executive Order 13422 whose purpose is to give the "White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy." So states Robert Pear in a story, "Bush Directive Increases Sway on Regulation," in today's New York Times. The new policy will require "that each agency...have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president's priorities." Through the order, Bush is signalling that even though the Democrats took control of Congress, he still has ways to flex his muscles. As was to be expected, business groups cheered the order, hoping that it would reduce the "burden of federal regulations," and "[c]onsumer, labor and environmental groups denounced the executive order, saying it gave too much control to the White House and would hinder agencies' efforts to protect the public." Professor Peter L. Strauss of Columbia Law School believes the executive order "'achieves a major increase in White House control over domestic government.'"