The First Six Months of George W. Bush:

* Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.

* Cut federal spending on libraries by $39 million.

* Cut $35 million in funding for doctors to get advanced paediatric training.

* Cut by 50% funding for research into renewable energy sources.

* Revoked rules that reduced the acceptable levels of arsenic drinking water.

* Blocked rules that would require federal agencies to offer bilingual assistance to non-English

speaking persons. This, from a candidate who would readily fire-up his Spanish-speaking

skills in front of would-be Hispanic voters.

* Proposed to eliminate new marine protections for the Channel Islands and the coral reefs of

northwest Hawaii. San Francisco Chronicle, April 6, 2001

* Cut funding by 28% for research into cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks.

* Suspended rules that would have strengthened the government's ability to deny contracts to

companies that violated workplace safety, environmental and other federal laws.

* OK'd Interior Department appointee Gale Norton to send out letters to state officials

soliciting suggestions for opening up national monuments for oil and gas drilling, coal mining,

and foresting.

* Appointed John Negroponte - an un-indicted high level Iran Contra figure - to the post of

United Nations ambassador.



* Abandoned a campaign pledge to invest $100 million for rain forest conservation.

* Reduced by 86% the Community Access Program for public hospitals, clinics and providers

of care for people without insurance.

* Rescinded a proposal to increase public access to information about the potential

consequences resulting from chemical plant accidents.

* Suspended rules that would require hardrock miners to clean up sites on Western public lands.

* Cut $60 million from a Boy's and Girl's Clubs of America program for public housing.

* Proposed to eliminate a federal program designed to help communities (and successfully

used in Seattle) prepare for natural disasters.

* Pulled out of the 1997 Kyoto Treaty global warming agreement.

* Cut $200 million of work force training for dislocated workers.

* Eliminated funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program, which encourages farmers to

maintain wetlands habitat on their property.

* Cut program to provide childcare to low-income families as they move from welfare to work.

* Cut a program that provided prescription contraceptive coverage to federal employees

(though it still pays for Viagra).

* Cut $700 million in capital funds for repairs in public housing.

* Appointed Otto Reich - an un-indicted high level Iran Contra figure-to Assistant Secretary

of State for Inter-American Affairs.

* Cut Environmental Protection Agency budget by $500 million.

* Proposed to curtail the ability of groups to sue in order to get an animal placed on the

Endangered Species List.

* Rescinded rule that mandated increased energy-saving efficiency regulations for central air

conditioners and heat pumps.

* Repealed workplace ergonomic rules designed to improve worker health and safety.

* Abandoned campaign pledge to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2), the waste gas that

contributes to global warming.

* Banned federal aid to international family planning programs that offer abortion counselling

with other independent funds.

* Closed White House Office for Women's Health Initiatives and Outreach.

* Nominated David Lauriski - ex-mining company executive-to post of Assistant Secretary of

Labour for Mine Safety and Health.

