EPA Chief's Stonewalling Sends Waxman Into Gavel-Pounding Rage

[babylonsister]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/johnsons_stonewalling_drives_w.php

Johnson's Stonewalling Drives Waxman to Gavel-Pounding Distraction
By David Kurtz - May 20, 2008, 4:43PM

In a showdown between irresistible force and immovable object, the immovable object won.

Under withering questioning this afternoon from exasperated House government oversight committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson held his ground, repeating the same non-responsive answers until the usually unflappable Waxman finally lost his temper.

Waxman was asking Johnson whether he had ever discussed two ozone rulings with the President. Johnson has previously testified that he had discussed California's emissions waiver, but now refused to say whether he had discussed the ozone rulings. The White House's involvement in overruling science-based recommendations from EPA staff in favor of more politically expedient alternatives is now the focus of Waxman's investigation.

As Waxman continued to press this line of questioning, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the highest ranking Republican present at the hearing, protested that Waxman was asking questions out of turn, prompting Waxman to threaten to have Issa removed from the hearing room.

This sort of song and dance from Johnson is now routine. He's managed to skate through multiple Senate and House hearings now, confirming his critics' impressions that he's a deceptive political hack, but avoiding actually answering the questions.

Related youtube:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=135034&mesg_id=135034

[shanti]

1. they seem to have learned their lesson well

just don't answer the question and you'll be ok! :grr: the die has been cast.

[spanone]

2. the arrogance from this administration is breathtaking....they answer to no one...period.

[bdamomma]

11. that arrogance will bite them back in the ass someday soon.

[Supersedeas]

3. and California can be so proud of Issa

[babylonsister]

4. Any chance he's up for reelection? At least you have some

statesmen and women you CAN be proud of.

[Winterblues]

5. Every single Congressman is up for election every two years....

It is the Senate that has four and six year terms...

[babylonsister]

7. Thanks. In my haste I forgot that; I haven't heard much mention of Issa

or the race. That's probably not a good thing.

[madokie]

8. isn't the senators term for six years with a third up for reelection every two years

[crimsonblue]

9. there are no 4 years senate terms... only 6 year terms..

The senate elections are split up into different class categories to make the turn over rate consistent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classes_of_United_States_Senators

[ljm2002]

6. Thank you Mr. Waxman!

That was refreshing, to see at long last a Democrat tell one of those a**holes that he'll have him physically removed! Bravo!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[jtrockville]

10. But he never did get an answer.