Elizabeth Warren: One Way to Rebuild Our Institutions

[n2doc]

By ELIZABETH WARREN

WASHINGTON — WHILE presidential candidates from both parties feverishly pitch their legislative agendas, voters should also consider what presidents can do without Congress. Agency rules, executive actions and decisions about how vigorously to enforce certain laws will have an impact on every American, without a single new bill introduced in Congress.

The Obama administration has a substantial track record on agency rules and executive actions. It has used these tools to protect retirement savings, expand overtime pay, prohibit discrimination against L.G.B.T. employees who work for the government and federal contractors, and rein in carbon pollution. These accomplishments matter.

Whether the next president will build on them, or reverse them, is a central issue in the 2016 election. But the administration’s record on enforcement falls short — and federal enforcement of laws that already exist has received far too little attention on the campaign trail.

I just released a report examining 20 of the worst federal enforcement failures in 2015. Its conclusion: “Corporate criminals routinely escape meaningful prosecution for their misconduct.”

In a single year, in case after case, across many sectors of the economy, federal agencies caught big companies breaking the law — defrauding taxpayers, covering up deadly safety problems, even precipitating the financial collapse in 2008 — and let them off the hook with barely a slap on the wrist. Often, companies paid meager fines, which some will try to write off as a tax deduction.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/opinion/elizabeth-warren-one-way-to-rebuild-our-institutions.html?_r=1

[JudyM]

1. This is important! Will you cross-post to GD-P?

[n2doc]

2. I trashed GD P a long time ago, feel free to cross post if you want to n/t

[Dustlawyer]

3. Add BP to that list. They were on PROBATION when they blew up the Deepwater Horizon and

we met with Eric Holder twice, turning over all of the worst documents from the BP Texas City explosion case. Between those two preventable accidents, caused by taking shortcuts to save money, they killed 26 people, injuring thousands and ruining the Gulf. Holder let them off probation early instead. They went after a couple of small fry only.

Big corporations always get a pass on even getting indictments. Loretta Lynch is from the same mold as Holder.

Money talks and the bullshit SOB's walk!!!