NYT: New E.P.A. Chief Says Budget Is Sufficient (funding decrease okay)

[DeepModem Mom]

New E.P.A. Chief Says Budget Is Sufficient
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
Published: May 20, 2005


WASHINGTON, May 19 - In his first appearance before Congress as the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Stephen L. Johnson told a Senate appropriations subcommittee on Thursday that he was satisfied with President Bush's budget for the agency even though it represented a 5 percent decrease from the current fiscal year.

The president's request of $7.6 billion for the 2006 fiscal year, which begins on Sept. 1, "supports the work of the E.P.A. and its partners across the nation," Mr. Johnson said, adding that the agency was doing its part to help Mr. Bush reach his goal of cutting the overall budget deficit in half by 2009.

But by saying that the money would be sufficient to "carry out our goals and objectives," Mr. Johnson left the strong impression that he would take his lead from the White House, rather than cast a higher profile, as his immediate predecessors, Christie Whitman and Michael O. Leavitt, did on occasion.

In the case of Mrs. Whitman, a former New Jersey governor who was viewed by the White House as too moderate, it cost her her job. Mr. Leavitt, a former Utah governor considered a rising star on the national level, was promoted to secretary of health and human services.

Mr. Johnson, a career scientist at the agency who was confirmed by the Senate last month, received a warm welcome from subcommittee members. But the chairman, Senator Conrad Burns, Republican of Montana, opened the questioning by telling Mr. Johnson that he was "really concerned" about the decrease and its potential effect on a variety of agency programs....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/politics/20enviro.html

[bowens43]

1. Of course it's sufficient.

If you don't intend to enforce any of the current regulations ,when your 'goals and objectives' consist of nothing more then looking the other way, you really don't need a large budget.

[kysrsoze]

2. That's so great of him to offer up funds from EPA. Who needs 'em anyway?

Especially since they don't police anything anymore.

[bigtree]

3. Stephen Johnson

Before joining the EPA, Johnson was the director of operations at Hazelton Laboratories Corp., the world's largest preclinical biological and chemical research laboratory, and Litton Bionetics, Inc, a medical division of the multi-billion dollar military contractor Litton Industries.

Policy Positions:

http://g.msn.com/9SE/1?http://environet.policy.net/reports/epa/candidates/johnson.vtml&&DI=293&IG=d6b6c957c475433b8f8b62e67a3d1772&POS=10&CM=WPU&CE=10&CS=AWP&SR=10



Earlier report of this:

Bush budget cuts EPA funding
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/02/08/budget.epa.reut/index.html (Broken link)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The Bush administration Monday proposed cutting the Environmental Protection Agency budget by nearly 6 percent to $7.57 billion in fiscal 2006 by targeting a program that helps cities replace aging sewage systems.

The EPA said the requested reduction was part of the federal government's overall belt-tightening, but environmental groups said it would hurt an important clean water program.

Total EPA funding would decline from $8 billion, which Congress allocated in the current budget year for the agency to protect the nation's air, water and land. In 2004, the EPA had a budget of $8.4 billion.

Acting EPA administrator Steve Johnson defended the plan as "a strong request that allows us to keep up the pace of environmental protections" and said the cuts were part of the administration's larger deficit-cutting plan. The White House is facing a record federal budget deficit.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Always -- foxes guarding henhouses.

Thanks for these additions, bigtree.

[hatrack]

5. Well, since voluntary programs have eliminated all toxics & ghgs . . .

For what does the EPA need ANY money, let along more money?

:puke: