TheLoop21.com

By: Marvin King (Add to your loop)
Tue, 01/13/2009 - 01:00

Obama needs to reverse a lot of Bush's work.

Public opinion the last two years shows the American public relishing President Bush's last day in office. People are looking forward to a fresh start, but they also seem to recognize change might not be immediate.

Our best chance for those quick changes come in the form of a legal maneuver at President-elect Barack Obama's disposal — the executive order, which the president issues to direct federal agencies under his control.

We are already hearing that Obama plans use this tool as early as his first week in office to close Guantanamo Bay. And he'll have many more opportunities to reverse Bush's actions.

Bush issued 262 executive orders during his time in office, most for mundane reasons, such as giving federal employees time off the day after Christmas. Others, though, are onerous and ideological.

A notable one early in Bush's tenure was Executive Order 13435, ending federal funding for stem-cell research. Many observers consider this the first attack in Bush's war on science. Even though scientists found ways around Bush's edict, the moral of the story was his insistence that his religious beliefs take priority over the needs of the scientific community. Reversing this order would send a powerful signal from Obama that science matters again.

A second order that Obama should immediately rescind reflects Bush's bald hypocrisy on environmental issues. California adopted emissions requirements for automobiles sold there that were stricter than federal standards. Typically, Republicans' belief in federalism means they support state initiatives separate from the federal government. However, Bush's ideological anti-environmentalism prompted him to have the EPA deny California's initiative.

Bush's use of executive orders often made life harder for workers. An example of this was a 2001 order dissolving the National Partnership Council. Former President Clinton established the council to improve labor-management relationships. Clinton's order required that management give labor a seat at the table in agency decision-making. By rescinding it, Bush sent an unequivocal message that the quality of the working environment was not his concern. Obama should reverse the eight-year adversarial relationship between workers and the federal government that Bush started.

One that Obama has said he will not rescind is Executive Order 13199, which established the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The office encourages certain federal agencies to use houses of worship as a partner in furthering administration goals. In and of itself, this is not a bad thing. The problem is the hiring practices of these houses of worship. While taking federal money, the government allows these churches — unlike other federal contractors — to hire only people of their religious faith. In other words, this executive order promoted religious discrimination. Obama should rescind this discriminatory provision.

Undoubtedly, there are dozens of other orders Obama will review and possibly rescind. There are many, though, that Obama should issue immediately upon taking office. Expect an executive order directing how the Treasury Department should spend any remaining bailout money. Congress already approved this money, but it is up to the executive branch to disperse it. I wouldn't expect the money to go to banks without the caveat that they immediately loan it out to consumers. This will be an early indication of Obama's priorities.

Marvin King is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Mississippi and writes the blog King Politics.

Should Obama put a moratorium on off-shore drilling leases?

Absolutely

Maybe, until the oil is cleaned up

No, but regulations should tighten

No, we need the oil production

I don't know