Dallas Morning News editorial board praises President Obama for West, Texas executive order [View all]

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In the same editorial, they belittle Gov. Rick Perry

"At last, there’s definitive action from the bureaucratic world toward cutting through the jumble of regulations that led to the West fertilizer disaster.

The fact that concrete steps are being ordered out of Washington and not Austin is hardly a surprise, considering how Gov. Rick Perry has been content to sit on his hands.

President Barack Obama’s executive order Thursday seeking better safety, security and data-sharing practices for hazardous chemicals came with deadlines, reflecting the sense of urgency that’s needed at every level of government.

And there was more good news out of Washington: The White House’s reversal on a major-disaster declaration to help West rebuild from the devastating April 17 explosion. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s earlier rejection of the disaster application was a slap in the face to the stricken town, especially after Obama’s personal visit and warm assurances."

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20130802-editorial-good-moves-by-white-house-on-behalf-of-west.ece

Also, Senator Barbara Boxer from California, needs to be commended for her actions to prevent future West, Texas disasters from reoccurring again in the future and pushing President Obama to sign an executive order last week.

"Barbara Boxer, chairwoman of the U.S. Senate’s environment and public works committee, sat visibly frustrated in a June congressional hearing. She finally told the Environmental Protection Agency official that “lives are being lost” while the agency failed to better safeguard the fertilizer chemical that blew up West.

Weeks later, Boxer wrote to the nation’s governors. She implored them to do what they could to improve the security of ammonium nitrate. Finally, the California Democrat turned to the White House. The results of her efforts became public last week when President Barack Obama issued an executive order directing the federal government to improve safety at chemical facilities.

“For me, it’s a game-changer,” Boxer said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. “I saw the intransigence of some of the agencies. I saw them arguing and not committing. … We asked the president to help make sure this [type of disaster] never happens again.”

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/west-explosion/headlines/20130803-obama-order-in-wake-of-west-blast-a-game-changer-in-chemical-safety-senator-says.ece

So, many people in Texas say "Thank you", President Obama and Senator Barbara Boxer, for having the courage to help and prevent another West, Texas disaster in the future. At the same time, many of us are very disappointed in the lack of action, "sitting on their hands" from our supposed leaders like Gov. Rick Perry, Senator John Cornyn, and Senator Ted Cruz. They are putting politics ahead of saving lives in Texas communities.

The Dallas Morning News appears to understand the difference. President Obama and Senator Boxer deserve our praise and thanks regarding West, Texas!