OSHA Gutted by Bush White House

OSHA has increased inspections

(NEWSER) - Grain bins are innocuous-seeming, necessary parts of big agriculture—but they're proving deadly for a record number of farm workers, and OSHA is taking notice. A worker trying to clear damp clots of corn or soy beans can quickly find himself in a sinkhole, his chest compressed by hundreds of pounds of pressure—"essentially drowned in corn," the Chicago Tribune reports. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama's job-approval rating slipped to 50% in Gallup poll results out today, a new low for the 10-month-old administration, the Los Angeles Times reports. The drawn-out health care reform debate apparently is dragging down the number, which hit 69% after the inauguration. The disapproval number is 43%. "It's real easy to stay popular in Washington if you don't do anything at all," a White House rep said. More»

Overturns Child Online Protection Act on 1st Amendment grounds

(NEWSER) - The US Supreme Court closed the door today on legislation designed to protect children from Internet pornography, the New York Times reports. The legislation, which was signed into law in 1998 but never took effect, was repeatedly struck down on First Amendment grounds. It set strict fines and jail time for providers who made explicit material available to minors. More»

Staffers wistful as all traces of them get wiped away

(NEWSER) - By the close of business today, the White House will be almost empty of staff, reports Politico. By Monday, there will be no physical trace of the Bush administration left in the building, as if 8 years of history could be unwritten by the crew of cleaners and painters. Says Dan Bartlett, a former presidential counselor, “In many respects it’s pretty identical to the early days, but there’s no exhilaration, just exhaustion.” More»

Bush administration pushes through midnight regulations

(NEWSER) - With the Bush White House pushing through a raft of last-minute rules, the nonprofit journalism group ProPublica offers a running list, with the status of each:

• Business-friendly safety regulations would loosen restrictions on exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace.
• Local police would get increased surveillance ability.
• Loaded guns would be allowed in some national parks.