Agencies Gear Up For Obama's Second Term

The article “Agencies Gear Up For Obama's Second Term,” in the November 19  issue of the National Law Journal, featured a quote by Kansas City Partner Randy Coffey. The article reported that with the re-election of President Barack Obama, lawyers are bracing for more vigorous enforcement activity and new policy initiatives at federal regulatory agencies. Randy commented on the agenda of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). During the next four years the EEOC is likely to focus increasingly on employer hiring practices, reasonable accommodations for disabled workers and protecting "vulnerable" workers, such as immigrants. "It's my impression that they're very much pushing the envelope, and trying to broaden protections, sometimes beyond the scope of what the statute seems to provide."