337>Pelosi opposes EPA clean air decision
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday that Congress would closely scrutinize its decision to reject California%26#039;s request to tighten rules on greenhouse gas emissions.
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Pelosi, D-Calif., said she strongly disagreed with the agency%26#039;s rationale for the decision and would support an investigation by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. He is seeking all documents related to the state%26#039;s request for a waiver to implement fuel efficiency rules for vehicles that it says will work faster than the federal government%26#039;s.
%26quot;The actions of the EPA in denying the California request cannot help but raise serious questions about the support of the Bush administration for state efforts to safeguard the environment and the health of their residents,%26quot; Pelosi wrote in a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.
EPA%26#039;s announcement Wednesday that it would bar California and at least 16 other states from regulating tailpipe emissions from new cars and trucks was swiftly criticized by state leaders and environmental groups. Several states have said they will appeal the decision.
Johnson said California%26#039;s emissions limits were not needed because Congress approved energy legislation raising fuel efficiency standards nationwide to an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. California officials say their state%26#039;s law was tougher and acted faster.
White House deputy press secretary Tony Fratto defended Johnson%26#039;s decision Friday: %26quot;He made that based on what he thought was best for the nation in addressing this issue, and he pointed to the really significant policy changes that are going to come through from the energy bill that we signed last week.%26quot;
%26quot;There%26#039;s always a balance, and he (the president) does have a healthy respect for states%26#039; rights,%26quot; Fratto added, %26quot;but these decisions need to be made in terms of what is best for the country.%26quot;
It was the first time the agency had completely denied a Clean Air Act waiver request from California after granting more than 50. The state adopted tailpipe standards in 2004 that would have required car makers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016.
Under the Clean Air Act, California needed a waiver to put in place the rules, and other states could then adopt them, too.
Twelve other states 鈥?Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington 鈥?have adopted the standards. The governors of Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Utah have said they also plan to adopt them. The rules are under consideration in Iowa.
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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007 in Washington. Congressional Democrats are planning to take on a broader policy focus next year on the Iraq debate after failing repeatedly to pass anti-war spending legislation this year, Pelosi said (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Reply:Lots of info but boils down to the fact that democrats can%26#039;t or don%26#039;t think they can win an arguement without embellishing or right out lying about the facts.
Take the false reporting in LA regarding the phone tax....basically if people voted no...it went away, if people voted yes, it would be dropped from 10% to 9%....the liberal media were touting people to vote yes and they would get a 10% discount.
Then there%26#039;s the Alternative minimum tax, The shamless move on .org adds, anti war nut lies, its a way of life for them. They seem to excuse themselves of manufacturing thier ideology and bending reality. And the surprise to me is that the left in America will bash the right for the smallest infraction, yet overlook the facts, reality and lies coming from thier own side.
How can one truely support the Democratic party from the past year of lies, scandals, misinformation and deceitfulness is beyond me. Perhaps they think they can stick thier head in the sand and let it all blow over.
Reply:Why are you writing an essay on yahoo answers?
Reply:i generally lean toward the liberal side on these issues but i will have to say that most republicans do want clean air they just see a different way of dealing with it. i don%26#039;t agree with most of the republican policies or lack of policies concerning environmental issues.
the answer to your question as stated would be:
because many of the republican administrations have done little to address any environmental issue and in many cases have been a detriment to our environment. i would also add you know that already because i took the time to read your
question/post/rant.
Reply:i think the article you posted kind of answers your own question. because they are. California wants to enact tighter fuel efficiency and pollution laws. The EPA which is run by a Bush appointee says no they cant. so nancy pelosi and harry waxman both dems want to investigate why the epa says no. consistantly the republicans are voting against pollution laws all in the name of protecting corporate interests.
Reply:Because it takes the focus away from the real arguments on issues.
Reply:President Nixon passed the clean air and water bill. Because of him our air is clean and our great lakes made a come back after almost dying
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