For many years, since I have been involved in state government, I have become painfully aware of the costs associated with every new environmental regulation. Everything from unrealistic standards for rural water districts to ridiculously sulfur-free diesel that has required so many modifications to pickups and trucks, not to mention the ultra-scrubbing of the fuel to the point of not being able to burn it in a conventional engine without additives. Every time those discussions would come up, it would all point to the EPA. It seemed like a government agency with a huge amount of power totally unchecked by anyone in a federal office. It seemed nobody had enough stroke to challenge the idiots to a dual.
Enter Senator Jim Inhofe. Senator Inhofe has decided that he would seek to stop the regulation of carbon. Apparently, according to Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, this effort would hurt Americans’ health. She said the US Supreme Court gave the EPA the authority to address carbon pollution under the “Clean Air Act”. Inhofe flanked by Representative Fred Upton of Michigan and Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, unveiled draft legislation in what they said was intended to block the EPA from making climate change policy that was not approved by Congress. In a joint statement, the three lead by Inhofe who has long been a skeptic of the idea that humans are causing global warming, said that they firmly believe federal bureaucrats should not be unilaterally setting national climate change policy. Their reason: EPA’s cap and trade tax will cost jobs and undermine competitiveness. So, it is Inhofe against Boxer. It is like UFC fight night in Washington. I know who I think the toughest one in that fight is and I am glad that someone finally had the guts to just square off with the EPA and say “I am here with a 55-gallon drum of you know what, don’t make me open it.” I cannot believe that the EPA goes unchecked like they do and that nobody has gotten a belly full to go after them. Whether you love of hate Inhofe, I am proud of our Senator for saddling up and calling their bluff. It is a long way from done but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Oh by the way, did I mention that Barbara Boxer is from CALIFORNIA? Nuff said.
If you would like to contact me while I am at the capitol, please do not hesitate to send an email to donarmes@house.gov or call me at 1-800-522-8502.
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
“Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I don't necessarily agree with some of the less sensible rules of the EPA, for example lowering the allowable arsenic level in water just because the ability to measure lower amounts became possible. Yet how come nobody *ever* comments about the lives saved or egregious practices that have been ended by regulation of pollution. You are possibly old enough to remember when the Cuyahoga River caught on fire due to floating debris and an oil slick. Possibly you have been downwind of an old smelter or other site that released nasty pollutants and have seen the effects of toxic emissions on landscapes and biota? Downstream of a mine and seen the damage to water and wildlife caused by toxic chemical emissions? In 2009 the New York Times ran a series about toxic waters that highlighted the fact that the Clean Water Act has been violated more than 506,000 times since 2004, by more than 23,000 companies and other facilities. I too can cite ridiculous actions by the EPA, but sometimes it would be worthwhile to reflect on the good actions that have only come about because of regulations that were supported by the people of this country, back when we cared about the environment.
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