Sunset Commission-----UPDATE!

[serryjw]

quote.....

White House, GOP Leaders Plan All-Out Assault on Federal Protections

Apparently rushing to lock in a long-sought goal before the fall elections, GOP congressional leaders may bring to a vote within weeks a proposal that could literally wipe out any federal program that protects public health or the environment--or for that matter civil rights, poverty programs, auto safety, education, affordable housing, Head Start, workplace safety or any other activity targeted by anti-regulatory forces.

snip......

House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has confirmed that his office is coordinating development of a final version for prompt floor action

end quote......

http://www.bushgreenwatch.org/mt_archives/000313.php

[NV Whino]

1. This is important

Let's keep it kicked.

[gordontron]

2. proud 4th R, and a kick for good measure nt

[The Doctor.]

3. R...

And :kick:

[drm604]

4. K&R

:kick:

[pat_k]

5. With bushcheney in power, no law is worth the paper it is printed on

You wanna protect our protections?

Demand Impeachment Now.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2694898&mesg_id=2694898

[mom cat]

6. Don't miss the Action links on this:

A coalition of public interest groups is fighting to block enactment of a sunset commission. Information is available through the Sunset Commission Action Center at OMB Watch.

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Take Action
Contact your members of Congress today through OMBwatch!

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These links can be found in:

http://www.bushgreenwatch.org/mt_archives/000313.php in the section called Greenwatch Today

[semillama]

7. Kick! n/t

[chill_wind]

8. More threats to separation of powers- must reading

Concentrating Power in the Executive Branch

Much like the line-item veto, the sunset proposal would be a sweeping power grab for the executive branch. With a commission chosen by the White House and charged with using assessments of agency performance developed by the White House, the executive branch would arrogate to itself the oversight activities that should be performed by Congress. Such a concentration of power threatens the balance of powers between the executive and legislative branches created by the constitutional order.

Moreover, in a political climate in which the White House has not hid its disdain for many federal programs and agencies, such a power grab could have devastating consequences.

Muzzling Dissent

Decisions this crucial — about the government’s priorities on issues such as health care, retirement security, environmental protection, and even homeland security and defense — deserve the full debate and consideration of elected bodies. Sunset bills would give the White House the power to ram major changes to government through Congress and impose such severe limitations on debate that they would muzzle our elected representatives from speaking on these vital issues.

The sunset proposals currently in Congress would all require a fast-track, up-or-down vote with no opportunity for amendment on all recommendations, giving elected officials little opportunity to debate or compromise on the terminations being proposed.

full text http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3422/1/330?TopicID=3

More analyses (OMB watch articles) http://www.ombwatch.org/article/archive/330?TopicID=3

Kick and recommend.