by Matthew Hay Brown
The head of the EPA has agreed to appear before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee later this month – but the agency still hasn’t turned over the documents the panel has requested on his decision to block California from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, the California Democrat who chairs the committee, called EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson’s “continuing refusal to cooperate” with the panel “absolutely unacceptable.”
“What started off as foot-dragging is looking suspiciously like a cover-up,” she said Friday. “What is Stephen Johnson trying to hide?”
Johnson denied California permission last month to begin regulating tailpipe emissions of the gases that scientists say contribute to global warming, reportedly against the unanimous recommendations of the EPA’s legal and technical staffs.
Boxer, who is investigating the ruling, had requested the documents in time for a “field briefing” she chaired Thursday in Los Angeles. EPA Associate Administrator Christopher P. Bliley told Boxer that her request could entail tens of thousands of e-mails and documents and that the agency would get back to her.
Boxer went ahead with the briefing, which featured an empty chair for the EPA – Johnson had declined her invitation to participate – and an empty box labeled “EPA Documents.”
In a letter Friday, Bliley said the EPA was making progress on her request.
“Please be assured that EPA respects your very strong interest in this issue and is committed to providing the Committee to the extent possible information necessary to satisfy its oversight interests consistent with our Constitutional and statutory obligations,” he wrote. “Your request is a top priority for the Agency and we are working hard to respond as quickly as possible.”
Alone among the states, California has authority to develop its own air quality standards, subject to federal approval. Once the EPA issues a “California waiver,” other states may enforce the same rules.
A dozen other states, including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland, stand ready to enforce the California standards on greenhouse gas emissions. Several of the states have joined California in a federal lawsuit that seeks to overturn the decision by Johnson, the first to deny a waiver request.
Bliley said he expected that the relevant offices of the agency will have “substantially completed their searches” for the documents by next Friday.
Boxer said “if the documents are not forthcoming before” the committee hearing of Jan. 24, “it will further demonstrate [Johnson’s] contempt for Congress and the American people.”
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Comments
Barbara Boxer is saying the EPA is covering up. This has been the Democrat mantra since Watergate.
Ironically Boxer's buddy Senator Hil Clinton was a Democrat staff attorney who fought like a pit bull to get Nixon impeached.
Richard Nixon, a man of class resigned rather than drag the country through the impeachment process. Then, when Slick Willey got impeached he fought heaven and hell to keep his job while Democrats like Dickie Durbin were his saviors. Nevermind he was disbarred even though GOP Senate RINOS like Trent Lott wouldn't carry through. Henry Hyde did a masterful job managing the House impeachemnt.
What is interesting to me is that Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, Chuckie Schemer, Pat Leahy and Dickie Durbin are all in your face liberal Democrats who tie up our nations lawmaking with make do hearings supposedly for oversight.
I'm sick of the Democrats self righteous whining.Get on with your lives. I don't think you agitators have any purpose other than to obstruct the GOP. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | January 12, 2008 9:19 AM
Third DNC Swamp article giving free pub to Democrat Boxer.
As everyone knows, about every two weeks Senator Boxer accuses EPA Administrator Johnson of destroying the western world over something or other. Most people have long since learned not to take Boxer's partisan rantings seriously.
Posted by: Bruce | January 12, 2008 9:23 AM
Jerry White,
Still hung up on Watergate are you?
Me?
I'm still amazed that Ronbo Reagan didn't get impeached over Iran/Contra.
Posted by: Doug Zook | January 12, 2008 9:31 AM
For the "other side" of this, the side the Democrats who write for the Swamp don't want you to read, see the compilation of articles at
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_12_16-2007_12_22.shtml#1198204120
Which basically say the EPA acted well within its legal rights.
The left in America doesn't want to win the public debate. They want to make sure, via their allies in the media, that meaningful debate doesn't happen.
Posted by: Bruce | January 12, 2008 9:48 AM
When someone says Nixon was a man of class, you know they're completely off the right edge. Then you have Hyde wrecking a family while having an affair with a married women, something Hyde dismess as "youthful indiscression"; in his forties. Yup, the new conservative definition of integrity.
The EPA under Bush is all for protecting corporations' rights to screw Americans by wrecking the environment & our health. Conservatives don't care if you breath more poluted air, drink more contaminated water, or bear children that are more likely to be deformed. They'll pay-off "scientists" that will make up bs about how any increase in polution will not adversely affect your well being.
This is the disgusting level of immorality & greed conservatives have stooped down to. Thank God the 08 elections will sweep the last bit of this idiocy for good. Ultimately, you'll join Nixon & Hyde in hell where you all deserve to be.
Posted by: RomanB | January 12, 2008 10:38 AM
RNC Gadfly Bruce,
Meaningful debate?
Do you mean like the debate on Iraq?
Do you mean like Defeatocrat?
Do you mean like cut-n-runner?
Bruce you live in a glass house.
Posted by: Doug Zook | January 12, 2008 10:57 AM
Bruce and Jerry White - You two don't get it at all. Despite your Dem vs. Rep hysteria, you don't seem to realize that there is ONE very, very important issue here that is typically extremely important to REAL conservatives. That issue? State Rights.
The state of California has passed a law that regulates that state alone. The EPA has come by and negated that law. Now the EPA doesn't want to defend it's decision because they are probably going to lose.
So please tell me. Are you two bastions of conservatism for or against state rights over federal rights?
Posted by: dogjudge | January 12, 2008 11:44 AM
Jerry,
For all of your rantings, if you truly think that Richard Nixon was a class act and was railroaded into resigning, it shows how little you know about American history and American politics.
I was fortunate enough to meet Sen. Sam Ervin who chaired the Watergate committee.
Try going back and learning a little bit about that era.
It was the Republicans, specifically led by Barry Goldwater that were the downfall of Richard Nixon.
When the Republicans looked at the evidence of what Nixon had done, they realized that they had to do something to save the country rather than pontificate party politics. The situation with Newt and the Clinton was a TOTALLY different situation. That was seen by not only the Democrats, but by the nation as a whole.
Posted by: dogjudge | January 12, 2008 11:50 AM
"Third DNC Swamp article giving free pub to Democrat Boxer."
Bruce,
Where do we pick up our free beers?
Jerry White,
Pretty funny. You're kidding, right Jerry? Jerry?!!
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | January 12, 2008 3:06 PM
Maybe the president of the Senate and tie-breaking voter needs to be the one sitting before the committee since his office is the one calling the shots at EPA.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | January 12, 2008 6:42 PM
"I don't think you agitators have any purpose other than to obstruct the GOP. Jerry White, Springfield, IL"
Earth to Jerry White, the one from Springfield, not Davenport, IA;
The GOP is out of power. They can't be obstructed.
They are the obstructers.
Earth to Jerry, over and out....
Posted by: C.Morris | January 12, 2008 8:52 PM
Jerry? Ya there, buddy?
Posted by: C.Morris | January 13, 2008 7:28 PM
Bruce, are you trying to tell us that the Trib Swamp writers don't tell the truth, or the whole story, and are biased? Well, you would be correct. These folks couldn't tell the truth or the whole story if their life depended on it. All bias, all the time.
Posted by: John D | January 13, 2008 7:58 PM