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Investigation Shows Bush EPA Administrator Lied About White House Pressure |
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It is no secret that the EPA makes its rulings for political reasons rather than scientific or legal ones. The House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee investigated the recent decision by the EPA deny California a waiver that would allow the state to implement their stronger program to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Their findings?
(1) the career staff at EPA unanimously supported granting California’s petition; (2) Stephen Johnson, the Administrator of the EPA, also supported granting California’s petition at least in part; and (3) Administrator Johnson reversed his position after communications with officials at the White House.
The Committee interviewed staff and reviewed documents to reach this conclusion. The conclusions were not a surprise as it was fairly obvious from the moment of the decision itself that politics had played a role in the waiver denial. The chronology of events as set out in the Committee Memorandum (pdf) illustrates when the White House injected their political will.
The EPA Staff interviewed by the Committee were unable to identify any agency documents that argued in favor of denial prior to December 19, 2007, the day California’s petition was denied.
In a deposition, [EPA Associate Deputy Administrator Jason Burnett] testified that Administrator Johnson “was very interested in a full grant of the waiver” in August and September 2007 and then thought that a partial grant of the waiver “was the best course of action.” … Administrator Johnson’s preference for a full or partial grant of the waiver did not change until after he communicated with the White House… Mr. Burnett also affirmed that there was “White House input into the rationale in the December 19th letter” announcing the denial of the waiver and in the formal decision document issued in March 2008.
While Burnett refused to answer specific questions about who in the White House was involved, it is clear that despite both the opinions and findings of the EPA professional staff and even the inclinations of Stephen Johnson, he succumbed to the White House’s desires to placate industry and refuse California’s request.
While testifying before the Committee, Johnson refused to acknowledge White House involvement in the decision, despite all of the overwhelming evidence.
Johnson defended his actions and repeatedly stymied Democrats looking for answers. He insisted that he was solely responsible for the decisions in question and declined to provide details about his meetings with the president and other White House officials.Â
“I have routine meetings with the executive branch including the president … those meetings are in confidence,” Johnson told the committee.
Under a barrage of questions from New Hampshire Democrat Paul Hodes, Johnson refused to even acknowledge discussing the decisions with the president or other White House officials.
And of course, the Republicans on the Committee rallied around Johnson. rep. Brian Bilbray of California explained, “Yes there is undue influence — but no one administration has a monopoly on that.” Another California Republican, Darrell Issa, explained that the President is legally entitled to be involved in EPA decisions. Well at least he is admitting that the White House overruled the experts.
Senator Barbara Boxer, another Californian, passed through her Environment and Public Works Committee a bill to overturn the EPA decision and allow the waiver. It passed by a 10-9 vote, but Boxer conceded the bill probably will not get to the Senate floor as the Senate schedule is full and Bush would just veto the bill anyway if it got to his desk.
But this should serve as another example as to why this election is important, not just for President but for Congress as well. The country needs a White House that pays attention to the health of its citizens before the wealth of its industries, and a Congress that will practice oversight to make certain that any Administration will follow what is best for the country.
It certainly is no surprise that Cong. Brian Bilbray of California’s 50th CD (North County San Diego)defended the administration. Bilbray has been a 91.8% down-the-line supporter of this President, and has consistently voted to against clean air and clean water legislation. Fortunately, there is a strong Democratic candidate against him this time around with a groundswell of support to send Bilbray back to his former job as a lobbyist. The Democratic candidate is Nick Leibham, who is a former teacher and then a criminal prosecutor with a strong pro-environmental record. Please go to http://www.picknick08.com and check him out for yourself. The only way we are going to change Congress is to change the Members of Congress. Whether it is Obama or McCain as President, a determined anti-environmental cleanup band of Republicans in the Congress can stymie any meaningful legislation because they are in the pocket of well-paying corporate interests. So it is up to us to stop talking and start doing by supporting our friends and opposing our enemies with money and foot-soldiers.