Deregulating on the Way Out the Door
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Not mentioned in the Oct. 31 front-page article "A Last Push to Deregulate" was a proposed rule that the Interior Department is literally rushing through to gut interagency consultations under the Endangered Species Act.
Under this proposal, agencies under ethical clouds, such as the Minerals Management Service, could avoid the checks and balances of a 22-year-old procedure (instituted by that conservation radical Ronald Reagan). The significance of this proposal is immense, particularly given that listed species such as the polar bear, desert tortoise and numerous birds have become crucial indicators of the health of our rapidly warming planet.
While industry touts these changes as "common sense," obviously the new deregulatory buzzword, the reality is that the oil and gas industry continues to get special favors from the Bush administration that harm residents and the environment.
WILLIAM J. SNAPE III
Senior Counsel
Center for Biological Diversity
Washington
Having learned nothing from how its deregulation of financial institutions contributed to worldwide economic chaos, the Bush administration proposes to extend its bankrupt ideology to consumer and environmental protections. Before it inflicts yet more misery with a last-minute scorched-earth policy, could somebody please check the Constitution's fine print to see if there's an emergency provision for swearing in the president-elect the day after the election?
MICHAEL PETIT
Arlington
