[Luis Gonzalez]

Bush Administration Pushes Environmental Law Enforcement to States

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The Bush administration is working to shift more responsibility for enforcing environmental laws to the states, according budget documents sent to Capitol Hill on April 9, 2001. The administration's proposed EPA budget for fiscal 2002 reduces the agency's enforcement budget by $10 million and increases grants for state enforcement by $25 million.

Many environmentalists oppose the policy, arguing that enforcement became a federal responsibility only after states demonstrated uneven ability or will to do so themselves. A study by EPA's inspector general released on August 22, 2001 documented shortcomings in state level enforcement of federal clean air and clean water laws.

Most federal environmental enforcement is split between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice. The administration argues that states are closer to, and a better judge of, environmental violations that take place within their borders.

- 8/22/01

Source.

Bush is turning over enforcement to the States?

What does the commie bastard think that he's running here?

A Republic?

[Howlin]

What does the commie bastard think that he's running here?

Say, don't YOU call him that. That's what Todd calls him.

[Jhoffa_]

Now that I can deal with.. Let the states decide if it's worth it to them to "protect" these resources in a manner that kills the livelyhood of their citizens. And let their elected officials rule on it and take the heat for it at the local level.

However, why did he re-authorize this act? Don't you think this seems to be in direct conflict with these 2001 "budget documents" which imply the exact opposite?