I don't see how tightening environmental regulations can be a political ploy, although loosening them could certainly be so, especially in the present environment.

Democrats who approve of stricter regulations are not likely to change their vote to Republican if regs are loosened by Obama. But those who feel the economy or their jobs are threatened by stricter rules, or feel they are not a valid concern, may very well vote against the party that tries to implement them, even if they agree with some of its other policies. Even unions will vote Republican if they can be convinced their jobs are on the line. Nixon and the Teamsters proved that.

In fact, except for those cases where it can be conclusively determined and universally agreed on that regulations are unnecessary, or foolish, it would seem to me that it takes some political courage on the part of a Democrat to insist on implementing them in an election year. Likewise, delaying them until after an election could certainly be fairly described as an act of political expediency.