Rollback

The EPA is retreating on several regulatory fronts, as indicated in this article by Walter Olson at the Cato Institute .

Are there enough data points yet to call it a trend? I think there are: the Environmental Protection Agency is now backing off a whole series of deeply unpopular Obama-era initiatives. This time it’s the idea of tightening the federal standard for coarse airborne particulates—better known as “dust”—from the current 150 micrograms per cubic meter to a figure somewhere between 65 and 85, depending on what assumptions are used. That change could have dealt a tough economic blow to businesses, notably farms and ranches, that kick up quantities of dirt in the ordinary course of operation.

But be advised: the agency is only doing this grudgingly.

This, then, seems to be the new Obama administration compromise position on the EPA: they’ll hold off for now on saddling the economy with at least some potentially ruinous regulations—but they’ll make sure you know they’re not happy about having to take that stand.

Another good reason to make sure Obama is a one-term president. Imagine how much damage the EPA and other agencies in the executive branch could do once Obama is no longer constrained by the requirements of electioneering and the need to feign concern over the loss of real jobs.