Free Republic

As Christie Whitman’s mercifully brief tenure as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency came to an end, the hope was that President Bush would appoint someone who would reform an agency that has done everything in its power to cripple the nation’s economy. The EPA has done everything it could to restrict access to energy and other natural resources, has put Americans at risk by banning or forcing beneficial pesticides off the market, and has attacked property rights in every way it could. The appointment of three-term Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, if confirmed, would be worse than the bumbling of...

As Christie Whitman's mercifully brief tenure as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency came to an end, the hope was that President Bush would appoint someone who would reform an agency that has done everything in its power to cripple the nation's economy. The EPA has done everything it could to restrict access to energy and other natural resources, has put Americans at risk by banning or forcing beneficial pesticides off the market, and has attacked property rights in every way it could. The appointment of three-term Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, if confirmed, would be worse than the bumbling of...

The political environment in the United States is about to get worse. This fall, the Senate will open confirmation hearings for Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt, President Bush's selection to run the Environmental Protection Agency. One of the Democrats aiming to replace Bush fired the first shot. "The American people deserve to know whether Gov. Leavitt shares the same disregard for clean air, clean water, land conservation and global warming as the president," Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut announced. Expect more attacks over the coming weeks, since that's what always seems to happen to EPA nominees who don't march in lockstep...