Cass Ballenger: “it was 1 year ago that President Clinton announced his plans to reinvent OSHA. The new OSHA, according to the…”

“it was 1 year ago that President Clinton announced his plans to reinvent OSHA. The new OSHA, according to the President's speech, would rely less on enforcement, more on partnerships. It would use common sense in regulations, so that the most benefits could be achieved with the least burden. And the new OSHA would focus on results, not redtape by focusing on hazards not paperwork and evaluating personnel on improvements in safety rather than penalties. Mr. President, that was a good speech. But not much has happened since then. Why not? The head of OSHA answered that question a few days ago: ``There are a lot of people who doubt this direction, including people inside the organization [OSHA].'' Mr. President, you have an opportunity to say to your opponents on OSHA reinvention that you actually meant what you said. I've introduced H.R. 3234. All it does is take your ideas on reinventing OSHA, even your words, and put them in law. So what will it be, Mr. President? Did you mean what you said 1 year ago?”