EPA Accused of Playing Favorites with Green, Conservative Groups: Another Scandal for White House?

www.theblaze.com ^ | May. 14, 2013 9:30pm | Becket Adams

[Yosemitest]

Before we get into the meat of this story, let’s do a quick recap of the Obama administration’s most recent scandals:

• Testimony provided last week by the Benghazi whistleblowers has raised serious questions about the Obama administration’s actions before, during, and after the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya
• The Internal Revenue Service admitted last week to harassing conservative groups
• HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Friday asked companies in an industry she has an enormous amount of influence over to donate money to help implement Obamacare
• The Department of Justice was caught Monday with at least two months worth of the Associated Press’ phone records

Needless to say, it’ll take an incredible amount of concentration and political savvy for the Obama administration to make it through the next few weeks (months maybe?).

Could things get any worse for the president and his cabinet? Maybe.

The Washington Examiner’s Michal Conger reports:

Conservative groups seeking information from the Environmental Protection Agency have been routinely hindered by fees normally waived for media and watchdog groups, while fees for more than 90 percent of requests from green groups were waived, according to requests reviewed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

CEI reviewed Freedom of Information Act requests sent between January 2012 and this spring from several environmental groups friendly to the EPA’s mission, and several conservative groups, to see how equally the agency applies its fee waiver policy for media and watchdog groups. Government agencies are supposed to waive fees for groups disseminating information for public benefit.

“This is as clear an example of disparate treatment as the IRS’ hurdles selectively imposed upon groups with names ominously reflecting an interest in, say, a less intrusive or biased federal government,” said CEI fellow Chris Horner.

Most green groups, including EarthJustice, The Waterkeeper Alliance, and Greenpeace, saw their fees waived. In fact, according to the report, 92 percent of requests from green groups were waived by the EPA.

But of the requests that were denied, “the EPA said the group either didn’t respond to requests for justification of a waiver, or didn’t express intent to disseminate the information to the general public,” Conger reports, citing documents obtained by the Examiner. 

And here’s where things could become a headache for the Obama administration:

CEI, on the other hand, had its requests denied 93 percent of the time. One request was denied because CEI failed to express its intent to disseminate the information to the general public. The rest were denied because the agency said CEI “failed to demonstrate that the release of the information requested significantly increases the public understanding of government operations or activities.”

Similarly, requests from conservative groups Judicial Watch and National Center for Public Policy Research were approved half the time, and all requests from Franklin Center and the Institute for Energy Research were denied.

“Their practice is to take care of their friends and impose ridiculous obstacles to deny problematic parties’ requests for information,” said Horner.

“This is a clear pattern of favoritism for allied groups and a concerted campaign to make life more difficult for those deemed unfriendly,” he said, adding that he thinks the EPA is stonewalling CEI because it’s one of the few groups that tries to keep the fed agency accountable.

“The left hand of big government reaches out to give a boost to its far-left hand at every turn. Argue against more of the same, however, and prepare to be treated as if you have fewer rights.”

Exit Question – From conservative author and commentator Mark Steyn: “Where do you go to vote out the EPA?”*

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[steve86]

Very little would change. He is just a figurehead and appointees have done most of the actual damage.

[FreedomStar3028]

There isn’t enough popcorn in the world for this show and what hopefully is coming.

[dila813]

It happened to me with information seeking information that the DOT was collecting, I was looking for patterns of reverse discrimination.

They wouldn’t return my phone calls, eventually I caught them on the line and they said this information is only released to universities and people preparing dissertations. They then told me that I can submit a FOIA request but I would have to pay for the info.

Even though they routinely provide this information at no cost to others.

[Deagle]

Please, just another known illegal action of this Government!

[Cololeo]

Let’s not let Fast and Furious get buried. There is still a lot of past scandals to deal with. Number One was the birth certificate and his past records that still are hidden.

[Yosemitest]

All these scandals are real.
However, they're a distraction.
This may be what the other hand is trying to pass.

Senate Skips Details in Rush to Pass Immigration Bill

[clearcarbon]

"Another Scandal for White House?"

[KeyLargo]

Then There Were Five Obama Scandals…?

Bryan Preston

May 14, 2013 - 9:07 am

The Environmental Protection Agency stands accused today of showing favoritism toward liberal groups over conservative groups.

Conservative groups seeking information from the Environmental Protection Agency have been routinely hindered by fees normally waived for media and watchdog groups, while fees for more than 90 percent of requests from green groups were waived, according to requests reviewed by the Conservative Enterprise Institute.

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/05/14/and-then-there-were-five-obama-scandals/

[driftless2]

The hits just keep on coming.

[generally]

I agree, but I’ve been saying that for years and I’m already out of popcorn. I thought the fat lady would’ve sung by now.

[EBH]

I am wondering if all this is coming out now as a prelude to martial law being declared.

If our government has gone so rogue...what is the benefit in showing the full hand now? We’re beyond the ‘crisis’ mode of operation.

They are overwhelming the public with how ‘hopeless/helpless’ we are against a progressive government. Are they hoping this will provoke the public?

Is this their symbolic Reichstag Fire?

This may be an orchestrated attempt at provocation.

[Uncle Miltie]

WRITERS: Stop with the PREFACES. Get to the meat immediately.

Sheesh.

I know public edumaction be broke, but come on! Learn something about modern communication, and summarize your thesis or news in the first paragraph, if not precisely the first sentence.