Meet Stephen Johnson, EPA’s Alberto Gonzales
He oversees a department that makes America great, but he’s surrendered it to a radical conservative agenda, rampant politicization, and corporate cronies.
Alberto Gonzales at the Justice Department? Nope, Stephen Johnson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. [Wonk Room]
Yesterday, we told you about the rampant political pressure that EPA scientists feel under Johnson. [MicCheck]
But his shoddy record doesn�t stop there. Here are some more examples of poor judgment and kow-towing to the very industries he�s supposed to be regulating:
â�¢ Disregarded the Supreme Court on Global Warming: When Americaâ��s highest court told the EPA that greenhouses gases were a pollutant and had to be regulated under the clean Air Act, Stephen Johnson and President Bush… just ignored them. [Wonk Room]
� Overruled smog standards: When independent EPA scientists �tried to set a lower seasonal limit on ozone to protect wildlife, parks and farmland,� President Bush ordered the EPA to raise the limits, and Stephen Johnson went right along with it. [Washington Post]
� Ignored integrity standards: Johnson refused �to enforce the agency�s �Principles of Scientific Integrity� involving fluoride drinking water standards, organophosphate pesticide registration, and control of mercury emissions from power plants.� [Wonk Room]
� Closed libraries: Johnson oversaw �The shuttering of EPA�s network of technical libraries without waiting for Congressional approval in 2006 � to be reopened only with documents that undergo a political review.� [Wonk Room]
What do all these things have in common? �Behind all these actions is service to corporate polluters above public health.�
Our pals at the Wonk Room have much much more: [Wonk Room]
We don�t need another Gonzo.
White House Launches Summer Jobs+ Initiative for Youth
Students Win Right to Wear ‘Jesus is Not a Homophobe’ shirts; Survey Says College Is Too Easy
Sneak Peek: #CPNC12 Speakers Revealed