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Public Citizen V. Trump VOL. 37, NO. 2 MARCH/APRIL 2017 NEWS After 15 Public Citizen v. Trump Years, BY RHODA FENG tion of at least two other rules, “If implemented, the order would ince President Donald Trump yielding a net cost of $0, and with- result in lasting damage to our Public Stook office, he has put regula- out consideration of the benefits government’s ability to save lives, tions — and the federal agencies afforded by the rules. In practice, protect our environment, police Citizen Wins that issue these vital public safe- this order will weaken, deter or Wall Street, keep consumers safe guards — squarely in his crosshairs. delay federal agencies from issu- and fight discrimination.” Rule to Prevent Parroting the talking points of ing new health, safety, environ- The complaint, filed in the U.S. big corporations, he has errone- Beryllium Deaths ously claimed that regulations cost jobs and dampen business “No one thinking sensibly about how to set rules for health, BY RHODA FENG ingenuity. safety, the environment and the economy would ever fter years of fighting for stron- Trump is dead wrong. So when issue this executive order. The goal is clearly to confer Ager protections from beryllium exposure, workers and organiza- on Jan. 30 he issued an executive enormous benefits on big business.” order arbitrarily directing that tions who have advocated on their federal agencies could issue new —Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen behalf have achieved a long over- regulations only if they repealed due victory — though one with a two, Public Citizen took action to somewhat uncertain future. block the order. mental, consumer finance and District Court for the District of More than 15 years ago, Public On Feb. 8, Public Citizen, joined worker protections. Columbia, names as defendants Citizen petitioned for stronger by the Natural Resources Defense “No one thinking sensibly the president, the acting director protections for workers exposed Council and the Communications about how to set rules for health, of the Office of Management and to toxic levels of beryllium in a Workers of America, sued the safety, the environment and the Budget (OMB) and the current or variety of workplace settings. Trump administration over the economy would ever issue this acting secretaries and directors Finally, in January 2017, the U.S. executive order. executive order. The goal is clearly of more than a dozen executive Occupational Safety and Health The deregulatory Executive to confer enormous benefits on departments and agencies. Administration (OSHA) adopted a Order requires the cost of new big business,” Public Citizen The suit alleges that the agen- new rule to protect workers from rules to be offset by the elimina- President Robert Weissman said. see Lawsuit, page 13 see Beryllium, page 16 The Republican War on Regulation BY DAVID ROSEN is being waged on several fronts simultane- resident Donald Trump, his Cabinet of ously. On each front, Public Citizen is leading Pbillionaire robber barons and the corpo- the fight to defend public protections and the rate-backed Republican Congress are trying regulatory process from these unprecedented to plunder our nation’s wealth and resources assaults on public health and safety, our wal- by dismantling public protections, rigging lets and workplaces, and our environment. the rules for their own personal benefit Upon assuming office, Trump temporarily and unleashing big corporations to prey on suspended federal regulatory activity, some- American workers, consumers and families. thing recent presidents have done. But on Jan. The GOP’s war on regulation is payback 30, he signed an executive order requiring the for billions of dollars in corporate campaign repeal of two public protections for every spending on behalf of Republican candidates new one issued — forcing federal agencies to during the past several election cycles, and it see Regulation, page 8 INSIDE ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED CORPORATECABINET.ORG TRACKS TRUMP CABINET PICKS, page 5 SEVEN YEARS LATER, THE FOUNDATION OF CITIZENS UNITED IS IN RUINS, page 10 IN THIS ISSUE GET TO KNOW PUBLIC CITIZEN VOL. 37, NO. 2 • MARCH/APRIL 2017 RICK CLAYPOOL An ongoing series profiling DEMOCRACY Public Citizen leaders and staffers 5 CorporateCabinet.org tracks Trump Cabinet picks 6 Nondisclosure agreements concealed congressional staff work on ick Claypool is the research director for poverty organization in Pittsburgh, Pa. I was Muslim ban RPublic Citizen’s president’s office. He has drawn to Public Citizen’s dedication to stand- 10 In touting Ivanka Trump products, worked at Public Citizen for nearly nine years, ing up to politicians and corporations that pri- Kellyanne Conway crosses legal line previously serving in various roles in the com- oritize private profit over the public interest. 11 Public Citizen’s January 21 munications department and the Congress That was nearly nine years ago, about a month democracy teach-In Watch division. Growing up in a family of before the 2008 financial crisis. I’ve been in the steelworkers in a working-class town in west- thick of it ever since. GLOBALIZATION & TRADE ern Pennsylvania, he witnessed firsthand the Can you share with us a fun/interesting fact 4 Will a Trump renegotiation of NAFTA economic devastation brought on by corporate most people don’t know about your work? make it better – or worse? globalization. Claypool has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in popular Claypool: I once wound up at a charity dinner LITIGATION culture studies. When Claypool isn’t doing in- sitting next to a politician I’d criticized pretty depth investigations on corruption and cor- sharply about a week earlier. He was on the 1 Public Citizen v. Trump porate power, he spends time with his family radio defending himself from what I’d said. But HEALTH & SAFETY and writes fiction. His debut novel is slated for at the dinner, we got along, exchanged a few release later this year. words. Pretty soon the politician started taking 1 After 15 years, Public Citizen wins a better position on the issue. I don’t think I Please tell us about your role at Public Citizen. rule to prevent beryllium deaths was the only reason he came around, but I like Claypool: As research director for the presi- to think I helped. GOVERNMENT & dent’s office, I do in-depth investigations into FINANCIAL REFORM a number of our issues. Some of the issues I What issues appeal to you most? come back to again and again are money in Claypool: Generally, I like knocking down the 1 The Republican war on regulation politics, drug pricing and corporate influ- barriers that corporate interests have erected 10 Seven years later, the foundation of ence in government. As you might expect, against policies that actually help people. So Citizens United is in ruins these concerns have taken on a new urgency money in politics reforms, improving the regu- under President Trump — especially corporate latory system and ensuring that corporations PUBLIC CITIZEN RECOMMENDS influence. Trump’s corporate Cabinet plus can be held accountable via the criminal justice 15 ‘Weapons of Math Destruction’ Congress’ bloodthirst for deregulation means system appeal to me. And I will fight forever 15 ‘The Populist Explosion’ I’m working every day to help arm Public for single-payer health care. Citizen and our members and supporters with What do you enjoy doing in your free time? information to resist destructive policies that, OTHER Claypool: I hang out with my amazing wife left unchecked, would let reckless corporations and son and a cat named Chomsky. I cook. 2 Get to Know Public Citizen rip off consumers, pollute our environment, I drink hoppy beers. I’m kind of addicted to 3 President’s View exploit workers and harm patients. This is the “Adventure Time,” this ridiculous show on 7 Riding into the sunset fight of our lives. Cartoon Network. I’m constantly reading. 11 In memoriam: Clarence Ditlow What led you to Public Citizen? And I write. My first book, a weird science fic- 12 Public Citizen in your state Claypool: Before Public Citizen, I did investiga- tion novel about a safety inspector who joins a 13 Andrea Strong receives 14th annual tive reporting for an alternative newsweekly in resistance movement against a corporate city- Phyllis McCarthy public interest service Toledo, Ohio, and worked for a grassroots anti- state, is coming out later this year. award 14 In the Spotlight 15 Public Citizen Crossword 1600 20TH ST. NW, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20009 • (202) 588-1000 • [email protected] • WWW.CITIZEN.ORG Public Citizen is a national non- PRESIDENT profit membership organization Robert Weissman ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS based in Washington, D.C. Since EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT its founding by Ralph Nader in Margrete Strand Rangnes Angela Bradbery, communications director 1971, Public Citizen has fought VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS for corporate and government Rick Claypool, research director Lisa Gilbert accountability to guarantee Katie Downey, communications intern the individual’s right to safe products, a healthy environ- PUBLIC CITIZEN INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jason Adkins (chair), Joan Claybrook, Andrew S. Friedman, Rhoda Feng, editor ment and workplace, fair trade, and clean and safe energy sources. Public Citizen is active in Congress, the courts and Danny Goldberg, Jim Hightower, Joy Howell, Shannon Karilyn Gower, press officer government agencies. Liss-Riordan, John Richard, Anthony So, Robert Weissman (ex officio) Caroline Krauss, communications intern Public Citizen does not accept government or corporate grants. Our funding comes from our supporters through- PUBLIC CITIZEN FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bartlett Naylor, financial policy advocate out the country, who believe there should be full-time Mark Chavez (chair), Jim Bildner, Ann Brown, Robert C. Fellmeth, David Halperin, Annie Leonard, Cynthia Renfro, press officer for regulatory advocates of democratic principles working on their David Rosen, behalf; from foundations; and from the sale of our publica- Steve Skrovan, Gerson H.
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