The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. December 17, 2013 White House Accused of "Systematically" Delaying Key Rules Ahead of 2012 Election ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current and former Obama administration officials have confirmed the White House "systematically" delayed a series of regulations to avoid controversy in the 2012 election. The Washington Post reports federal agencies were told to hold off on key environmental, worker safety and healthcare rules for up to a year. The stalling meant a number were either lengthily postponed or never enacted. The delays were said to be "clearly political," and far more extensive than similar maneuverings by previous administrations. The delayed rules include standards for cleaner gasoline, lower-pollution vehicles, and federal protections for bodies of water.