Kerry says corporations sway environmental rules

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts returned yesterday to the safe haven of one of his signature political issues, the environment, proposing a new federal commission to stop "special interests" from influencing environmental regulators.

Kerry, standing by the once heavily polluted Merrimack River with local environmentalists who have endorsed his presidential bid, said that the bipartisan commission would investigate complaints of political and corporate influence over the Environmental Protection Agency.

Kerry accused the Bush administration of prematurely ending investigations of power plants and energy companies that allegedly released thousands of tons of sulfer dioxide and other pollutants into the environment.

<snip>

Kerry hopes to rally New Hampshire voters, especially those families living near some 200 polluted lakes and streams here, behind his tough stand on environmental protection honed during 19 years in the Senate. In recent weeks, Kerry has given speeches and run a television ad casting himself as an opponent of "big polluters" and "special interests."

<snip>

Offering historical perspective for Howard Dean's current double-digit lead over him in several New Hampshire polls, Kerry said: "I'm not as far behind in New Hampshire as Al Gore was to Bill Bradley" at this point in the 2000 Democratic primary. Gore went on to beat Bradley.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2003/11/13/kerry_says_corporations_sway_environmental_rules/

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Stating the obvious.

But it's a start.

[blm]

3. He already had a formal investigation launched against the WH,

specifically Karl Rove, and corporate influence on EPA decisions. Kerry pushed it through a few months ago. The media won't tell you this stuff. Why do you think they never focus on any issues regarding Kerry? They only want to talk about Dean, Dean, Dean.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. Kerry Takes on the Top Ten Bush Polluter Pleasers

John Kerry today promised to protect the environment and take on the Bush administration’s cozy relationship with corporate polluters and special interests. Fresh off an appearance on late-night television, Kerry released his own top ten list: George Bush's Top Ten Polluter Pleasers.

1. New roadblocks to improving fuel economy in automobiles. Reducing the transportation sector’s reliance on oil is clearly the key to improving our nation's energy security, yet Bush’s energy plan adds new requirements to the fuel efficiency standard setting process.

2. Does not decrease American dependence on foreign oil. Bush’s energy plan even strips out an agreement supported by Democrats and Republicans to reduce oil consumption by at least one million barrels per day by 2013.

3. Does not include accountability for developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Bush’s energy plan provides billions of research dollars for hydrogen with no accountability for actually developing a fuel cell vehicle or achieving oil savings or pollution reductions.

4. Delays new protections from mercury pollution. Bush’s energy plan delays a new EPA rule that will set mercury thresholds for coal and oil-fired power plants putting public health for children and adults at further risk.

5. Letting polluters off the hook. Bush’s energy plan gives polluters a free pass for contaminating groundwater with MTBE and other fuel additives. This would mean that states and thousands of communities around the country will have no legal means of holding MTBE manufacturers responsible for the massive water pollution they have caused.

6. Rolls back clean air protections. Bush’s energy plan will waive anti-smog requirements in polluted cities that missed clean air requirements.

7. Exempts big oil from the Clean Water Act. Bush’s energy plan includes an exemption of oil and gas exploration and production activities from the Clean Water Act putting our drinking water supplies at risk.

8. Support for dirty energy sources, not renewables. Bush’s energy plan supports more than twice as many direct subsidies for dirty energy sources such as coal, oil and gas, and nuclear as for clean renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal.

9. No incentives to purchase fuel efficient vehicles. Bush’s energy plan fails to provide adequate tax breaks to help consumers buy fuel efficient vehicles.

10. Opening up sensitive lands to drilling by waiving environmental regulations. Bush wants to speed up energy exploration and development at the expense of environmental review and public participation putting our health of our environment at risk.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2003_1112d.html

[blm]

4. They won't listen. Neither will the media.

Bush must be protected at all cost. Go Dean is their cry.

[JohnKleeb]

5. That awful Kerry ;)

J/K with you guys again. Seriously good for him, environmental issues are a strong point of his I think he should use.

[Pez]

6. this proves kerry's a do-nothing bush-lite washington insider HO!

oops hahahah

quick quick! kerry~haters ||:deny, distract, delete:||



-=Kerry-2K4=-