World-News

Kevin Berends, Truthout: "During the transition period there is a silent coup d'etat occurring inside the federal government in the form of last-minute firings and dubious personnel placements. The easy response to this practice is: 'That always happens during the transition period and it isn't even newsworthy. That's how Washington works - always has, always will.' Perhaps, but considering how pervasively the Bush administration has flouted every branch of government, from ignoring Congressional subpoenas, to ignoring Supreme Court rulings, to violating the Geneva Conventions, to profuse and legally feeble signing statements - it's clear that embedding operatives loyal to the party and policies jettisoned by the voters in the election is tantamount to laying mines throughout the government."

http://www.truthout.org/113008B



Eleventh-Hour Rush to Enact a Rule That Obama Fought

Robert Pear, The New York Times: "The Labor Department is racing to complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job. The rule, which has strong support from business groups, says that in assessing the risk from a particular substance, federal agencies should gather and analyze 'industry-by-industry evidence' of employees’ exposure to it during their working lives. The proposal would, in many cases, add a step to the lengthy process of developing standards to protect workers’ health."

http://www.truthout.org/113008D



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