Kerry assails the easing of corporate regulations

Presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry and other Democrats are accusing President Bush of stacking the federal government with friends and donors who are gutting regulations on U.S. corporations. Kerry, running mate Sen. John Edwards and supporters are stressing a theme this week that they have been campaigning on all year: Bush puts corporate interests ahead of workers and the middle class.

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A Kerry-Edwards campaign report attempts to tie donations from various industries to favors that the industry got from the administration. For example, it says:

• The logging and timber industry gave more than $1.5 million to Bush and got the right to log without the usual environmental reviews.

• The coal industry gave $300,000 to Bush and got less protection against black lung disease for workers.

• The chemical industry gave more than $1 million to Bush and got reduced regulations on chemicals exposed to workers.

• The auto industry gave more than $300,000 to Bush and got eased rules on reporting potential defects and a rule allowing truckers to drive 11 hours a day.

• The restaurant industry gave more than $1.2 million and got killed a regulation intended to prevent their workers from exposure to smoke.

The Kerry campaign also names many administration officials who used to work for the industries they now oversee.
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