Bushco…Hazardous To Our Health, Again

The New York Times opined as follows today…

Dr. (John) Howard’s six-year term as director of (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services, expires on Monday. He had asked to be reappointed, but just before the long July Fourth weekend Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the disease control centers, let him know that she was beginning a search for a new director.

Is it me, or is it patently ridiculous to be terminating someone whose work has been roundly praised in the service of a presidential administration due to expire (happily, at long last) after 192 days?

Dr. Howard has gained particular renown over the past two years for coordinating and championing health programs for workers who were sickened at ground zero, including screening, monitoring and treatment.

This post takes you to more information on Howard’s termination, including protests by Dem House Reps Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler of New York.

And this post tells us…

Prior to serving as NIOSH chief, Dr. Howard (pictured) directed the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in California’s Department of Industrial Relations. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree (1974), a Master of Occupational Health (1982), a Juris Doctor (1986), and a Master of Laws (1987).

And the Center for Disease Control’s media office issued this statement…

“During his six years of service, Dr. Howard was very attentive in addressing the concerns and needs of NIOSH stakeholders and he has worked diligently on many challenging issues. We thank him for his service to the country.”

Chalk this up to yet another triumph in bureaucratic ineptitude by Dr. Julie Gerberding of the CDC, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, and President Highest Disapproval Rating In Gallup Poll History himself; as a minor point, I should note that NIOSH differs from OSHA in that the former is not a regulatory agency and cannot issue standards enforceable by law (though OSHA has been effectively neutered also, as noted here).

All the same, I just wanted to say thanks to Dr. Howard for trying to make a difference while burdened with the yoke of dealing with Bushco’s bottom feeders and also trying to ensure our safety at the same time.