Reply #9: This was posted yesterday: [View All]

[babylonsister]

Mentioned on www.democracynow.org

Democrats Move to Stall EPA & FDA Nominations
On Capitol Hill, Democratic Senators have temporarily blocked the confirmation of President Bush's nominees to head the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. EPA nominee Stephen Johnson came under intense criticism by Senator Barbara Boxer for his role in a controversial pesticide testing experiment in Florida. Under that program federal researchers offered low-income parents in Duval County nearly $1,000 to allow scientists to measure the effects of pesticides on children under the age of one year. Boxer called the program unethical and immoral. She said "it's environmental injustice where children are the victims." Hearings were also held Wednesday for Lester Crawford who has been nominated to head the Food and Drug Administration. Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Patty Murray of Washington vowed to hold up his nomination until the FDA allowed the morning-after-pill be sold. Last year an expert panel of scientists recommended the emergency contraceptive known as Plan B be sold but the FDA has yet to issue a final ruling.