Boxer Takes A Few Jabs At EPA Head

Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., didn’t mince words when she grilled EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson at a hearing yesterday about why his agency hadn’t decided yet whether to let Boxer’s home state require tougher vehicle emission standards than EPA. More like she made mince meat of him.

Boxer held the hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, not only to light into Johnson, but to promote an unusual bill that would force EPA to decide the matter by Sept. 30.

Boxer delivered several jabs and even a left hook when she said things to Johnson like, “You’re the EPA, not the Environmental Pollution Agency,” after Johnson said he needed more time to reach a decision, when it’s already coming up on two years after California made the request.

Accusing the agency of being “hostile to the public health and interest,” Boxer peppered Johnson with questions about the influence of industry lobbying on the decision-making process.

In response, Johnson claimed that his decision on the request was not influenced by industry lobbying, he knew nothing about such lobbying, that he’d be shocked, shocked to find there’s lobbying taking place on this issue (okay, I’m making that last part up) and that he would eventually (i.e., sometime before he dies or retires) issue an “unbiased decision.”

Boxer’s reaction was incredulous. “You won’t speak out against that lobbying? You’re part of this. I believe the administration has already decided not to grant the waiver. You’d have to be born yesterday not to see it.” Ouch! That had to smart.

Senator James Inhofe, R-Okla., who has opposed Boxer’s bill in the past, continues to do so. “Rushing this process is unacceptable. In fact, it would be arbitrary and capricious–in law and in fact,” Inhofe said.

According to the article, Johnson’s predecessor at EPA, Christine Todd Whitman, told Rolling Stone magazine that she quit the job due to continual interference in the agency’s global warming reports and decisions by Vice President Dick Cheney and other White House officials.

Hmm. So . . . which of these people should we believe? Umm, let me think . . .