Not to be outdone by Alberto Gonzales, Stephen Johnson appeared before the Senate yesterday and achieved new levels of obstinacy.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee questioned Johnson, the administrator of EPA, about the Supreme Court's recent ruling affirming the agency can regulate carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act. The legislation instructs EPA to regulate harmful air pollutants.

The hearing started as a back and forth about the speed with which EPA would pursue regulation. Democrats want swift action and urged Johnson not to wait for potential greenhouse gas legislation. Johnson refused to commit to a timetable preferring to move with the Bush administration's usual sloth.

Things could have stymied there, but Johnson chose to antagonize the committee further by abandoning reasonable thought. Since the Clean Air Act only requires the regulation of emissions harmful to the public, EPA would not have to regulate if it determined carbon not to be harmful. But that would be a ludicrous notion, wouldn't it? The LA Times reports:

As to whether the EPA will regulate carbon emissions nationwide, Johnson said the agency must first determine whether greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health or welfare.

That remark drew criticism.

"Surely, you acknowledge that global warming does endanger public health," Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said.

Johnson refused to say whether he considered global warming the No. 1 environmental problem. That rankled Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

"You astonish me," Whitehouse said.

Amen to that, Mr. Whitehouse.

Democrats want swifter EPA action on emissions standards [LA Times]

The Clean Air Act is clear in stating the federal government should reduce the presence of harmful air pollutants. However, for years the Bush administration has ignored one of America's premiere environmental laws and failed to address perhaps the world's most harmful emissions: greenhouse gases.

Today, the Supreme Court set the record straight. In what will surely be hailed as a landmark decision, the court ruled 5-4 the federal government can regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The ruling comes at an ideal time, as Congress and the American people are realizing the time to combat global climate change has arrived. Moreover, it proves the virtue of checks and balances in our democracy, as the Supreme Court has checked the Bush administration's failure to execute its constitutionally charged duties.

For more from the Natural Resources Defense Council, click here.

For background on the court case, click here.



Posted by Matt Madia, 01:16:55 PM