Obama to reverse many of Bush´s policies

Source: Xinhua | 11-12-2008 07:52

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. president-elect Barack Obama could reverse some of president George W. Bush's controversial executive orders, including restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, a top Obama aide suggested Tuesday.

Obama's transition team is reviewing hundreds of Bush's executive orders, John Podesta, Obama's transition co-chair, told reporters.

New presidents often use executive orders to put their stamp on Washington quickly.

Obama is expected to use his executive authority to reverse Bush's order limiting the types of embryonic stem cell research that can receive federal tax dollars.

Advocates for those suffering from a host of diseases -- including diabetes, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries --are eagerly awaiting the Bush-era restrictions to be lifted.

Other controversial Bush measures Obama is expected to overturn are related to abortion and family planning.

U.S. State Department officials and family planning groups such as Planned Parenthood said they expect Obama to overturn the "Mexico City" policy, first instituted by the Reagan administration.

The policy prevents taxpayer dollars from funding groups that perform or promote abortions overseas.

Former President Bill Clinton dropped the order when he was in office, but his successor Bush re-implemented it.

An Obama administration also could overturn the Bush administration policy of banning funding to organizations such as the UN Population Fund that operate in countries that practice forced sterilization.

Podesta said his team also is reviewing Bush's order that lifted restrictions on oil drilling on fragile federal lands in Utah.

Environmental groups decried Bush's decision when he opened the lands to exploration this month, and the Obama team called the decision a "mistake."

One set of executive orders that may take longer to overturn pertains to detainees at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, military prison.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei