The Politicization of the EPA — an Administration’s Radical Gamble

Pajamas Media ^ | Dec. 8 | Alan Carlin

[AJKauf]

On Monday, the EPA announced its endangerment finding for greenhouse gases. One can infer from the timing of the announcement that the administration may have taken this action at this time in order to bring something to the table at the Copenhagen COP15 meeting.

From a scientific viewpoint, it was an odd time to do so — given that the very recent Climategate disclosures would presumably have taken some time to digest and analyze for their possible effects on vital conclusions. So the timing may have been based more on the political, rather than the scientific, factors involved.

But from a larger viewpoint, the U.S. president who was going to find a way to resolve partisan bickering in Washington has now embarked on a major escalation of the conflict — by using the power he holds over executive branch agencies to fight his enemies in Congress over the issue of global warming....

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[Paladin2]

There is no science for a finding that CO2 endangers human life, much less plant life.

Look at all the CO2 Venus has and it's still a planet in our solar system. CO2 has in no way destroyed Venus.

[TheThirdRuffian]

I saw EPA Andminstrator Lisa Jackson's press conference. (Picture not from that.) She had that smug smile that bitchy liberal women have when they think they are "sticking it to the Man."

Typical liberal who is not very smart and hides her bewilderance and insecurity with heavy-handed actions and reprisals.

Look for stories of her firing whites and men.

[Logical me]

How can anyone doubt that the Federal Government has been corrupt for many years. King Obama is just using the system and all the unconstitutional regulations to turn America into a communist Nation. During his 11 months this rat has literally destroyed our economy and has pushed our debt to unsustainable levels. And it will continue unabated.

[marsh2]

For Immediate Release, December 8, 2009

Contact: Kevin Bundy, (415) 436-9682 x 313, kbundy@biologicaldiversity.org

Report: President Obama Has the Clear Legal Authority to Make a Binding Commitment for
Greenhouse Gas Reductions in Copenhagen Without Waiting for Congress

COPENHAGEN— The Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute released a report today demonstrating that President Obama has clear legal authority to commit the United States to reducing greenhouse gas pollution. The report, titled Yes, He Can: President Obama’s Power to Make an International Climate Commitment Without Waiting for Congress, concludes that the President need not wait for Congress to act before taking strong action to reduce U.S. emissions.

The report will be released in Copenhagen this evening at a side event hosted by Greenpeace.

Where: Niels Bohr
When: Tuesday, 8 December, 21:00-21:30 (Copenhagen time)

“President Obama’s hands are not tied by Congress’s lack of action or the grossly inadequate cap-and-trade bills currently under debate. President Obama can lead, rather than follow, by using his power under the Clean Air Act and other laws to achieve deep and rapid greenhouse emissions reductions from major polluters,” said Center attorney Kevin Bundy, the report’s lead author. “Obama can use his authority to make a binding agreement in Copenhagen without additional action from Congress. The Constitution and existing domestic environmental laws give President Obama all the power he needs to join with other nations in making a real commitment to solve the climate crisis.”

The report cites prominent legal scholars and U.S. Supreme Court opinions recognizing the President’s broad power to make binding international agreements that do not need to be ratified by a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate. For example, the President could enter into either a “congressional-executive” agreement under authority already granted by Congress, or a “sole executive” agreement based on his own constitutional powers.

The report also details the President’s broad authority to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions under existing environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. The release of the report follows yesterday’s important finding by the Environmental Protection Agency that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. That decision will facilitate comprehensive measures to curb greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act.

“The President has the ultimate responsibility for enforcing domestic environmental laws, and those laws give him a wide variety of options for reducing greenhouse gas pollution,” said Bundy. “All he has to do is promise the international community to use the authority he already has.”

“It simply isn’t true that President Obama cannot make a commitment in Copenhagen. Yes, he can, and if the world is to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, he must.”

[truthguy]

Elections have consequences and Lisa Jackson is a consequence of Barry Obama as president. The woman is a complete hack. She a junk science junkie. She has tremendous power at EPA. Congress should rein in this organization that has no notion about the laws of diminishing returns. They will destroy American industry if not checked and they (EPA/Obama Administration) don't give a damn. They have doubled down on the global warming idiocy and no amount of evidence can persuade them to even moderate their beliefs. Even if Glaciers were to start moving across Canada and into the United States, they would still insist that the Earth is warming and we need to tax carbon. We are screwed until we can get this administration out of power.

For all of you who know people who voted for Obama, you should hammer home these facts. It is they who put Lisa Jackson where she is. They (Obama voters) are responsible for this madness.

[junta]

Another lefty bully who would slink away if targeted Alinsky style and held responsible for her destructive behavior.

[1010RD]

The EPA was politicized at its very founding.

It is simply fulfilling its purpose. (Thanks Nixon)

[Mamzelle]

Blatant, in-your-face fascistic extortion. I don’t get furious at the Democrats very often, but having a threat—an pass-can’n’tax-OR ELSE ... !!!

[OneWingedShark]

I’m rather of the opinion that a 12 ga. fired in the face is an appropriate response to extortion.

[pabianice]

Obama hates general aviation (it’s a personal freedom, which he loathes). These new regs will legalize shutting-down GA once and for all. Only 3% of the GA fleet can meet the new emissions regs.

[DeweyCA]

The only way to stop this nonsense will be for the GOP to win overwhelmingly in 2010 and then defund the EPA. But they wouldn’t be brave enough to do that, so we are screwed.