Democrats Want Probe on Bush Admin Clean Air Policy

[kayell]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031106/pl_nm/utilities_emissions_dc_1

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new top U.S. environmental regulator was sworn into office on Thursday amid Democratic demands for an investigation into a Bush administration decision to drop air pollution enforcement action against 50 coal-burning power plants.



In an about-face, the Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) on Thursday acknowledged that it will apply less stringent pollution standards to cases brought against some utilities for Clean Air Act violations.


Word of the change trickled out on Wednesday, the day before former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt took office as EPA administrator. Leavitt replaced Christine Todd Whitman (news - web sites), who was often at odds with the administration's environmental agenda.


Democrats called for a probe of the EPA's failure to enforce the previous, stricter rules. They also said the new rules could endanger ongoing cases, where utilities face billions of dollars in dirty air fines.

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[goforit]

1. You all have the power to ask for a probe????

Look in the mirror guys!

[joeybee12]

2. Lots of hot air, and the Dems will cave once again, like they did on

Leavitt's vote. Oh, but they all dropped their opposition because they just knew the Admin and the EPA would be more forthcoming. And yes, within about a week, we knew how true that was--like we didn't see it coming.

Are they just stupid or spineless or both?