December 21, 2007
Bush to California: Choke On It
Every year, California fills out a bunch of forms, dots a lot of i's, and writes up some reports to send off to the EPA for permission to be granted a waiver from EPA rules to create their own carbon dioxide emission limits. This all started in the 70s when California pollution wasn't so groovy and was made more of a priority recently when the state decided to do something about Global Warming as the Federal Government was too busy thinking Global Warming was nothing but the blabberings of a bunch of tree-hugging hippies and wanted that cute little polar bear to die. Everytime the state had sent out the request, the state had been granted a waiver. But not this year-- our request just got ixnayed.
The reason given is that in lieu of the recent energy bill, there's no need to have each state create their own rules, even if their rules are better than the Federal Government's. Or so said head of the EPA Stephen L. Johnson. Johnson's decision, of course, had nothing to do with intense lobbying by car companies, who spent part of last fall crying to Dick Cheney like the little bitches they are. Johnson, actually, had a reputation for not being an Administration stooge (well, somewhat) but we all know what happens when Dick wants something to happen.
The best part of the story is that Johnson's move was made entirely by him all willy nilly-like, without any advising or consenting by the others in the EPA. Johnson's decision was so willy-nillly-like, that he didn’t even send back an official document to Arnie but just posted a note about it on Arnie’s Facebook Wall. His underlings were so thrilled by the choice that they went and did what every other disgruntled employee does-- call the press and let everyone know their boss is a jackass. In a press conference yesterday, Bush defended Johnson's decision and said it was Johnson's decision because if there's anything one jackass likes, it's another jackass.
In response, California is suing the federal government. We'll see how well that goes.
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Jerry Brown in the hizouse!
Succession creeps ever closer. California uber alles!
'08.
'08.
'08.
Come this time next congressional cycle those fuckers are going to WISH California was the only state with those emission limits.
umm, just for factual accuracy, California hasn't been setting its own carbon dioxide limits since the 70's. California has had its own emission control laws regulating various pollutants -- these were allowed by the EPA because the air quality was so poor in the state. Regulating carbon dioxide emissions is new approach and required a different justification. There is a debate as to whether California's justification was sufficient under the EPA statutes, so there was likely to be a lawsuit either way the EPA ruled. And the EPA's ruling was hardly as "will-nilly" as described.
umm, just for factual accuracy, California hasn't been setting its own carbon dioxide limits since the 70's. California has had its own emission control laws regulating various pollutants -- these were allowed by the EPA because the air quality was so poor in the state. Regulating carbon dioxide emissions is new approach and required a different justification. There is a debate as to whether California's justification was sufficient under the EPA statutes, so there was likely to be a lawsuit either way the EPA ruled. And the EPA's ruling was hardly as "will-nilly" as described.
AB 1493 (Pavley) in the hizouse! The head of the federal EPA, appointed by Bush, an oil guy, doesn't want tailpipe emission standards? No! Nine other states have written legislation modeled after dear old Fran's bill and the federal EPA won't allow implementation for them, either. Is that willy-nilly I smell?