GOP gives more power to federal government, States blocked on industry rul

[Rose Siding]

States blocked on industry rules

WASHINGTON -- Despite having made a commitment to return power to the states, the Bush administration and the GOP- controlled Congress are using legislation and the legal system to quash state efforts to regulate industry, a trend state officials say is weakening hard-fought efforts to protect the health and safety of their constituents.

New and proposed federal rules or laws would overturn California's ban on a vaccine preservative some think contributes to autism, and would block any state's efforts to control small-engine emissions. New England would be thwarted in its efforts to control pollution wafting over from other states, while Massachusetts and California would not be able to keep unwanted liquefied natural gas terminals from their shores. A recent banking rule change severely limits the impact of state laws intended to protect consumers from shady banking practices.
...
The result, attorneys general say, is that some Americans will have less consumer protection and less safe environments -- and states won't be able to do anything about it. ''It's a whole pattern of accumulating power in Washington federal agencies that is more extensive than any administration in the history of this country," said California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, a Democrat who has been fighting the Bush administration over California laws involving energy, banking, access to abortion, and air quality.

California is a leader among the states in setting tighter rules for consumer products and air quality. Its Proposition 65, for example, requires manufacturers to notify citizens if a product has toxins or is carcinogenic. A Lockyer spokesman said several applications of that law could be wiped out if Congress passes the Protecting America in the War on Terror Act, which includes preemption of state laws on drug regulation and labeling. Further, California's unique laws on motor emissions have been rolled back already because of an amendment Congress tucked into a spending bill last year. Continued...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/05/01/gop_gives_more_power_to_federal_government/

[Rainscents]

1. I hate these baster... they'll stop at nothing!

[femme.democratique]

2. Where are all the FEDERALISTS, why no outrage about this?

Because they're all lying hypocrites! I can't take it anymore!!!

[Double T]

3. Makes You Wonder What The GOP Really Is All About............

..........All Evil And Absolutely NO Good. GOP Stands For Greedy Old People (And Those That Think The Same).

[Mist]

4. Today's GOP is NO supporter of states' rights. That's 180 difference

from what they believed even 10 years ago.

[Miss Chybil]

5. Protecting America in the War on Terror Act?

Bullshit. Is this really the Fourth Reich? We have got to win back the Senate in 2006.

[wishlist]

6. Even North Carolina has had to struggle to keep their anti-pollution rules

EPA environmental standards have gotten so lax that even states like North Carolina are having to struggle against EPA to maintain stricter air quality rules.

[drduffy]

7. don't ya know folks

they are consolidating their power for the facsist state to come (partly here already). Are you surprised? you shouldn't be.

[Name removed]

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