Search

The Republican Party's goal of overhauling the federal government's regulatory affairs is facing much opposition from the Clinton administration and environmental and public health groups. Consequently, they are adding regulatory provisions into appropriations bills, putting political pressure on government agencies, and may create an agency to study the costs and benefits of regulations.

A 1992 Congressional law that allowed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite drug approval has brought risks and benefits to patients and put the FDA in a difficult position. Congressional Republicans believed consumers and not government should make decisions about drug risks. Patients with life-threatening diseases welcome new drugs quickly put on the market, but some new drugs have had serious adverse side effects. Patients with non-life threatening diseases have been hurt by new drugs. The FDA is caught between its responsibility to patients and market pressures.

Republican Sen Susan Collins released a General Accounting Office (GAO) report on May 11, 1998, which highlighted the dangers of imported fruits and vegetables. She also argued that there needs to be a thorough investigation before any kind of legislative action is initiated. Others contend that Republicans are reluctant to take action because of their anti-regulatory approach to government.

Farmers claim the Environmental Protection Agency is interpreting the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act in a manner that gives them permission to remove pesticides from the market in order to reduce the ways people are exposed to chemical residues. Vice-president Al Gore is trying to mollify the fears of farmers, chemical manufacturers and food processors without alienating environmentalists and public health groups.

The role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in developing national tobacco policy will determine the relationship between the agency and the federal government. However, conservative Republicans do not trust the FDA and believe that the tobacco legislation would widen the FDA's authority. In the end, in Apr 1998, Republicans developed a plan with cooperation from the Clinton Administration and public health groups to give the FDA sweeping power to regulate nicotine as a drug.

White House aide Harold Ickes has been having a difficult time dealing with many crises. He joined the Clinton Administration in Jan 1994, but he may not be successful. Managing the health care reform campaign has been a struggle. Biographical information on Ickes is provided., Harold Ickes is grinning, although things couldn't be much worse. President Clinton's plan to overhaul the nation's health care system is listing badly. Dan Rostenkowski, the chairman of the House [...]

The Senate on Sep 29, 1998, approved the fiscal 1999 appropriations conference report by a voice vote, eliminating funding for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The $20.9 bil measure would cut federal funding for TVA, which provides power to Southeastern states and regulates navigation, recreation and other non-power services along the Tennessee River.

A three-judge panel in the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Aug 14 overturned President Bill Clinton's executive order that gave the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the sale, distribution, and use of tobacco products. The federal government has appealed the ruling, and the case is expected to go to the Supreme Court. These developements have placed more pressure on Congress to address the issue of youth tobacco use and addiction.

The Senate passed a $21.4 bil energy and water bill on Jun 18 1998 and approved a major amendment that would increase by $70 mil the funding for renewable energy and solar research. The amendment was a victory for the administration and Senate, which believe research is critical to break the nation's dependence on fossil fuels.

House appropriators are preparing for battle in their quest to eliminate the federal subsidy for the Tennessee Valley Authority, but they face opposition in the Senate. The authority provides power to southeastern states and oversees navigation, recreation, and other services along the Tennessee River.