The Political Voices of Women

White House Lies and the EPA — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at The Care2 Election Blog)

Yet another announcement of White House lies and manipulation, this time with the EPA. I’m shocked less at this announcement, but more about the public and media reaction to it (or lack of). Have we become numb to the Bush administration’s lies and propaganda? Are we all just immune to the deceptions of this administration? Or is it that we are just so tired of feeling helpless against our corrupt government, that we need to ignore these types of announcements to protect our sanity?

This is the announcement about the EPA that came in my email today…

Last week, the Union of Concerned Scientists released the results of its latest investigation into political interference in government science, this time at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report reveals an agency under significant pressure: hundreds of EPA scientists report political interference in their work, significant barriers to communicating scientific results with the public, and concerns about the agency’s effectiveness.

The EPA has distorted and censored science to justify decisions on global warming, mercury emissions, smog pollution, oil drilling, fuel efficiency, and countless other issues that impact our everyday lives. What’s more, they have cut science out of the process when making critical decisions about our health, safety, and environment.

Here is some of what other bloggers are saying about this…

This is from Lots O’Thoughts…

This really should be a big story, but MSNBC is busy covering campaign strategy and FOX News is busy covering the candidates’ appearances on WWE.

UPDATE: In any other administration, this would be a huge scandal. So would the earlier New York Times story about “Message Force Multipliers.” Since when is it acceptable to doctor scientific information under the guise of an objective administrative organization? Since when is it acceptable to make false and misleading statements under the guise of seemingly objective retired generals? But above all, why do our journalists just not care anymore? Is it scandal-fatigue?

UPDATE II: Remember this?

This is from a post at The Pump Handle…

I’m sure none of our regular readers will be surprised to hear that 889 scientists (60% of the 1,586 who completed surveys) personally experienced at least one incident of political interference during the past five years, or that 516 scientists knew of “many or some” cases in which EPA political appointees inappropriately involved themselves in scientific decisions. The survey did turn up a few things that were less predictable, though – and the report is well worth reading in any case, because it’s an excellent compilation of what ought to be going wrong at EPA, where the problems are, and how to fix them.

One of the interesting findings was that many scientists point to the White House Office of Management and Budget as the chief problem. We’ve written before about how the Bush Administration is using the OMB to erect new hurdles for regulatory agencies, and apparently a lot of EPA scientists are running into the hurdles.

From The Daily Kos…

This is outrageous. About 1 in 5 scientists employed at the taxpayer funded agency responsible for protection of “human health and the environment” has personally experienced data manipulation to justify a regulatory outcome or change the meaning of scientific findings.

This is from Fact-esque…

So our Moron-in-Chief thinks he’s a scientist now? He doesn’t understand the scientific reasons for fire but he’s deciding how much poison cars can spew from their tailpipes?

Oh, right. He was an oil man. He knows, alright – knows how much new limits would cut into corporate profits. Therefore, limits are baaaaad.

Henry Waxman, who complained about Bush screwing with science for years when he was in the minority, has had enough. He’s scheduled a hearing for Grifo to lay out and explain her findings.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter to Johnson yesterday telling him to prepare to answer questions about the survey findings at a hearing next month.

“These survey results suggest a pattern of ignoring and manipulating science in EPA’s decision making,” Waxman wrote.

Or maybe not so much EPA’s decision-making as Bush’s corpo-political re-imagining of what those decisions should have been to keep his rich friends happy.
So C+ George Bush is running the EPA now? Oy. No wonder we’re dying like flies.

What do you think about all of this? Have we become immune to the lies of the Bush Administration?

Also see related posts…

Is The EPA Protecting The Environment?
EPA Decision To Deny California Waiver
Is The Government Manipulating The Media?
Pentagon Propaganda

More Political Voices of Women…

We now have over 400 women political bloggers on our list, here are the H’s…

Health Populi — Jane is a frequent public speaker and writer on health policy, health economics, information and medical technology and scenario planning in health care.

Hear Speak No Evil

High Desert Reports

Hillary Is Our Choice – forum

Hillary is the Wo/man

HillRaiser 08

Hog House Blog

Hoyden About Town — We blog on life, laughs, science, progressive politics and foiling diabolical masterminds.

Hullabaloo

New EPA Clean Air Standards Show Why Consumer Action is so Critical…

Today the Care2 Election Blog has a timely guest post by Diane MacEachern, the founder and CEO of Big Green Purse, Diane is passionate about empowering women to use their marketplace clout to protect the environment. She is a best-selling author, successful entrepreneur, sought-after public speaker, and long-time conservationist, she has launched the only company in the U.S. dedicated specifically to transforming women’s environmental concerns into measurable improvements in our quality of life.

READ FULL POST AT THE CARE2 ELECTION BLOG

Environmental Blog Roundup — Posted by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at the Care2 Election Blog)

I happened upon the League of Conservation Voters today, and I decided that this week’s political blog roundup will focus on the environment. Here are ten great blogs addressing some of the environmental issues in the news this week…

EPA Rejection of California

After more than two months, the Bush administration today finally articulated its legal case for rejecting California’s greenhouse gas standards for motor vehicles.

The argument is at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/ca-waiver.htm

It reads like something written up in the boardroom of General Motors or a law firm working for car companies. It even cites arguments made by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers as justification for the decision!

It’s a phony argument designed to protect the auto industry. It’s typical of the Bush administration to dump out bad news like this on a Friday to minimize media coverage.

EPA Comes Clean on Climate

Today EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson finally explained his decision, announced last December, to deny California’s request for permission to implement its standards regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars. In a 48-page document, Johnson stated that EPA could not receive a “waiver” for its program under the Clean Air Act because the state does not have the kind of “compelling and extraordinary conditions” that make such a waiver appropriate.

But here is the kicker: Johnson concluded that California’s problems aren’t “compelling and extraordinary” because they’re no worse than the very bad problems the rest of the country faces as a result of climate change. Thus, in the course of denying California’s waiver, EPA managed to make explicit, for the first time, its view that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Johnson’s discussion of greenhouse gases and climate change now obligates him to regulate these pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

Big Oil Can Afford To Forgo Tax Breaks, renewable energy can’t.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold Big Oil accountable Wednesday when it passed H.R. 5351, the “Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008,” which repeals nearly $18 billion in oil company subsidies over the next decade and dedicates the money to renewable energy and energy efficiency investments. Now the Senate must follow suit to help bring Americans relief at the pump and lay the groundwork for the type of clean energy investments we need to combat climate change.

Strike Three For McCain on Renewable Energy…

Yesterday the House passed a bill to continue and accelerate development of clean, renewable energy in America. Here’s what the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming had to say about the bill:

The legislation passed today will increase incentives for wind, solar and other renewable energy sources, close a major tax loophole for the largest gas guzzlers on the road, and repeal billions of dollars in taxpayer giveaways to the five most profitable oil companies at a time of record profits from $100 per barrel oil.

The oil industry giveaways amount to $17 billion over the next ten years, and repealing these subsidies frees up the revenue needed to pay for clean energy development. But because of this, the bill faces an uncertain future. In the Senate, the leading Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Pete Domenici, said about the bill: “It seems kind of dumb to me.” And no surprise, the White House has promised a certain veto.

Republicans are arguing that repeal of the oil industry subsidies will lead to higher gas prices, reduced domestic production and increased reliance on foreign oil.

Good political sound bites all — for scaring voters — but none of them true. The domestic oil industry will not even notice that the tax subsidies have ceased.

From TPM Cafe Talk at Talking Points Memo…

I don’t know if you are aware of this or not, but neither Senator John
McCain nor Senator Barack Obama have made their campaigns carbon
neutral. What does this mean? This means that neither candidate is
investing any of the millions of dollars their campaigns have raised to
offset the pollution from their many plane and bus rides.

By purchasing carbon offsets, Obama and McCain would mitigate their
campaign’s greenhouse gas emissions by funding renewable energy
research. This could result in more American jobs, improved national
security, and a healthier planet.

Big Green Purse…

While our energy future is clearly a priority, it’s startling that none of the candidates’ environmental proposals consider citizens’ exposure to toxic substances, water pollution, or air pollution – the issues that connect human health and the environment. Where do any of the candidates stand on reauthorizing Superfund legislation to clean up toxic waste sites? Closing loopholes in the Clean Air and Clean Water Act to decrease threats to our health as well as that of wildlife? Quelling the rise in asthma rates, especially among kids? Initiating research to understand what appear to be the increasing links between environmental health and breast cancer, autism, and learning disabilities?

These issues aren’t on any candidate’s agenda – but they should be, especially given the importance of the women’s vote in the 2008 election. Women and children are disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation (e.g., women suffer more heart attacks than men in cities with poor air quality). The candidate who breaks away from the party line on energy to address the links between pollution and human health could muster a real advantage as the race tightens and voters look for ways to distinguish among their choices.

Where has all the money Gone

Guess how much money is needed to fix our crumbling water infrastructure? Now guess higher. The Environmental Protection Agency’s now estimates that we need over $202 billion to fix sewer and storm water systems to meet Clean Water Act goals. Guess how much money the President proposed in his budget for clean water. $555 million – talk about fuzzy math…

The decline in funding for clean water infrastructure is felt all over the country as we’ve documented on our Act for Healthy Rivers site with more and more sewage spilling from old pipes into our local streams and rivers. We need more money at the local, state, and federal levels and it must be better spent, as American Rivers president Rebecca Wodder pointed out recently in the San Francisco Chronicle:

We can stretch those [federal] dollars even further with smart storm water management techniques such as rain gardens, permeable surfaces and by protecting our wetlands.

Clean Water Violations Cost Home Depot…

Home Depot has agreed to pay a $1.3 million penalty and implement a nationwide compliance program to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The settlement resolves alleged violations that were discovered at more than 30 construction sites in 28 states where new Home Depot stores were being built.

The settlement, joined by the state of Colorado, requires that Home Depot implement a comprehensive, corporate-wide program to prevent storm water pollution at each new store it builds nationwide.

A similar consent decree was reached with Wal-Mart in 2005 under which Wal-Mart established a comprehensive storm water compliance plan and paid a fine of more than $3 million.

“EPA requires construction sites to take simple, basic steps to prevent storm water pollution,” said Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

Also See:

Carbon Conscious Consumer

Chasing Clean Air

Where Do The Candidates Stand on Issues of Science? — Posted by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

It seems to me, the Bush administration has been a serious thorn in the side of science over the last seven years. That’s why it is so important for us to understand where our current presidential candidates stand on issues of science. What would they do about the environment? Stem Cell research? Global Warming? Well, we know a little more after science advisors for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, debated at the Annual Convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on Saturday.

From AFP – Clinton, Obama science advisors showcase their candidates

Clinton and Obama propose doubling the federal budget for basic scientific research over a period of five years; investing heavily in technology to produce next-generation biofuels; and advancing the fight against global warming.

They also want to remove what they say are the current ideological constraints on science, to return it to its rightful place in government policies.

“Hillary Clinton will end this assault on science,” said Kalil, who served as deputy assistant for technology and economic policy under former president Bill Clinton.

“She knows that innovation is critical for economic growth and high paying jobs,” he added, after outlining Hillary Clinton’s science program on a giant graph.

Ross limited himself to a simple oral presentation that was less structured as he invited members of the audience to visit Obama’s Internet site to get more details about his program.

Read more »

Exxon Mobil Continues To Post Record Profits??? — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at the Care2 Election Blog)

This just doesn’t seem right to me. There is something seriously wrong when oil and gas corporations continue making record profits, in a time when most Americans are struggling to pay the bills, the dollar is falling, and gas prices are going through the roof.

See Exxon Mobil Profit Sets Record Again at The New York Times…

Exxon Mobil delivered its strongest performance ever last year, earning a record $40.6 billion in net income because of surging oil prices, the company said Friday.

The figure, a 3 percent increase from the previous year, exceeded the company’s own record for profits at an American corporation, set in 2006, and is nearly twice what it earned in 2003. — read full article at The New York Times

If it was up to me (and I know it’s not), I would require these companies to begin to use a large portion of their profits, on finding and producing alternative fuels. It doesn’t even have to be a law, just take away tax incentives and raise taxes on companies that refuse to comply. I know, it’s a free market…bla, bla, bla. I still think there is no reason for giving tax incentives to companies that clearly do not need them.

Other bloggers blogging on this…

Redzilla Attacks — Exxon Reports Record Profits while giving America the finger

IntoxiNation – As We Loose Jobs, Exxon Sets Records

Cracked Virtue

Day Dreaming

What do you think about this???  Does it make you mad???? 

Hearing of EPA’s Decision to Deny California Waiver – by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

It still shocks me, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is trying to block California and several other states from passing more strict emissions standards for their states. It just doesn’t make any sense. If there is a way to decrease these dangerous emissions (that people are breathing into their lungs each day), why in the world would this request be denied?

On Thursday, a hearing was held [watch the webcast of this hearing] where the head of the EPA tried to defend his refusal to let California set limits on emissions, by stating that climate change did not pose any “compelling and extraordinary” risk to the state. [me - Is he kidding? Has he seen California?]

Adding insult to injury – When the Environmental Protection Agency was asked to turn over documents in this case, they refused, and claimed “executive privilege.” Well, that didn’t go over real well with the committee. Here is a clip of Sen. Barbra Boxer at the hearing on Thursday…

The environment and global warming issues are very important to many care2 members. And, there has been a petition circulating that addresses this EPA decision. If you haven’t already, you can sign that petition here. ***

Read more »

This site was brought to my attention today, and I thought it would be of interest to Care2 members and readers of this blog.

With all of the debates and interviews of candidates…It seems the issue of Global Warming is being ignored.

-
You can go to the What Are They Waiting For site for more information and to sign a petition.
-
What do you think? Should the media be asking more questions of the candidates about Global Warming? Is this an issue that you would strongly consider when voting for our next president?

Read More at the Care2 Election Blog

Is The EPA Really Protecting The Environment? — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

Why is the EPA so determined to refuse to allow California and 17 other states from setting stronger emission standards? If this wasn’t so pathetic it might actually be funny. Our country has this thing called the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As the name implies, this agency is designed to protect our environment. But oddly enough, the EPA doesn’t seem concerned with the environment so much anymore. In fact, the EPA has evaded disclosure of documents on why California’s emissions laws were struck down.

The refusal to provide a full explanation is the latest twist in a congressional investigation into why the EPA denied California permission to impose what would have been the country’s toughest greenhouse gas standards on cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles.

The EPA is claiming “executive privilege” – I can’t tell you how sick I am of hearing the words “executive privilege” every time an attempt is made to get to the truth about something.

Secrecy, secrecy, and more secrecy – These are the words that are the cornerstones of the Bush administration. Can there be true “democracy” in a government of secrecy? Does “freedom” exist in a country of secrecy? How can there be “unity” in the United States of America, in the face of so much secrecy? One thing is for sure…Global Warming will continue to thrive in this environment of secrecy.

The Care2 community is very concerned with the environment. If you would like to get involved with protecting the environment, here are a few groups you might want to check out…

Environmental Defense

Union of Concerned Scientists

Hybrid Vehicle Supporters

Global Healing

READ MORE AT THE CARE2 ELECTION BLOG

EPA Says 17 States Can Not Set Emissions Rules — This is a post I did for the Care2 Election Blog…You can see it HERE.

On one day the Bush administration attempted to look like they are serious about environmental issues, and then the next day they pull the rug out from under an important emission policy that would have allowed 17 states the right to set their own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. What is that about? — READ FULL POST HERE

This is a guest post from Anne-Marie at Front Yard Herald. Thank you Anne-Marie.

Who is Elaine Brown?

Green Party presidential contender — and advocate of “change that will not be e-mailed, rapped in a CD or YouTubed.”

Her mission: “to humanize this society.”

How?

Brown proposes a program that can be easily supported by the immediate transfer of the billions of dollars spent on war—one trillion dollars last year alone.

“Beyond a call for the immediate, unconditional and complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and war machinery from Iraq and Afghanistan, my platform focuses on the repeal of the ‘three-strikes’ crime laws across the nation,” she says. “In addition, the ‘three-strikes’ crime laws overturned the 100-year-old juvenile justice system, allowing for the inhumane housing of children in adult prisons, in violation of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.”