Morning Email

I haven't even gotten to the news on the web this morning yet. Just perusing my email and I popped open my NYT Headlines. Under the the Washington section these three headlines and blurbs:

First:

Immigration Sting Puts 2 U.S. Agencies at Odds
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
The Labor Department criticized a sting carried out by federal immigration officials, suggesting that it would make immigrant workers distrust safety officials.

Oops..guess no one told immigration that George and Co really like that cheap immigrant labor, while at the same time stirring up members of its base to rail against immigrants and encouraging folks like the Minutemen.
Short version: Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been masquerading as OSHA officials to nab illegals. The Labor Department is furious. But this comment just about sums it up for me:

"We think it's an absolute outrage and danger for the immigration authorities to use this type of tactic," said Cecilia Munoz, vice president for policy at the National Council of La Raza, an advocacy group for Hispanics. "Our labor law system is completely complaint-driven, and our ability to keep the work force safe depends on workers being able to complain, and by masquerading as OSHA officials, immigration authorities will clearly discourage immigrant workers from coming forward. This won't affect just immigrant workers, it will affect the safety of all workers."

Safety? Who needs workplace safety? It just cuts into the bottom line to have to worry abut that! Of course, the Bushies will never go after the employers that hire the illegals in the first place. Republican donations would dry up in a heartbeat, now wouldn't they?

Next headline:

Contraceptive Sales Status on Calendar at F.D.A.
By ROBERT PEAR
The Bush administration said that it would decide by Sept. 1 whether to allow sales of an emergency contraceptive without a prescription.

Looks like this is another deal with the Devil. Senators Clinton and Murray have agreed to release Bush' nominee to head the FDA, and allow a vote, in exchange for the administration agreeing to make a decision on whether they will allow emergency contraception to be sold OTC. I will be shocked if they allow it.

And finally:

Court Says E.P.A. Can Limit Its Regulation of Emissions
By ANTHONY DePALMA
The most authoritative court ruling on the issue so far lessens the likelihood that there will be any national programs to control greenhouse gas emissions anytime soon.

Beyond depressing...it's all about the bottom line for these assholes. Same song, different verse, "Self-policing works!" From the article:

Eryn Witcher, the press secretary for the Environmental Protection Agency, called the court decision a welcome win.
"We are pleased with this ruling and glad the court supported our decision," Ms. Witcher said. She said voluntary programs were better ways to reduce carbon and greenhouse gases than "mandatory regulations and litigation that don't promote economic growth."

This was a "fractured decision" and does leave the door open for the case to be heard by the entire court.

James R. Milkey, chief of the environmental protection division in the Massachusetts attorney general's office, called the ruling "a deeply fractured set of opinions" that was both disappointing and heartening.

"The two judges in the majority just assumed that E.P.A. had the authority to regulate emissions without dealing directly with the question," Mr. Milkey said.

Only Judge David S. Tatel, who wrote a pointed dissenting opinion, touched the central issue, Mr. Milkey said, and he "firmly rejected each and every argument that E.P.A. made trying to hide behind the claim that it lacked authority."

Mr. Milkey said the strong dissent could strengthen the case for a rehearing before the full 11-member Court of Appeals. The case could also be taken to the Supreme Court.

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