NYT: How Industry Won the Battle of Pollution Control at E.P.A.

[kskiska]

Just six weeks into the Bush administration, Haley Barbour, a former Republican party chairman who was a lobbyist for electric power companies, sent a memorandum to Vice President Dick Cheney laying down a challenge.

"The question is whether environmental policy still prevails over energy policy with Bush-Cheney, as it did with Clinton-Gore," Mr. Barbour wrote, and called for measures to show that environmental concerns would no longer "trump good energy policy."

Mr. Barbour's memo was an opening shot in a two-year fight inside the Bush administration for dominance between environmental protection and energy production on clean air policy. One camp included officials, like Mr. Cheney, who came from the energy industry. In another were enforcers of environmental policy, led by Christie Whitman, a former Republican governor of New Jersey.

The battle engaged some of the nation's largest power companies, which were also among the largest donors to President Bush and other Republicans. They were represented by Mr. Barbour and another influential lobbyist, Marc Racicot, who also would later become chairman of the Republican National Committee.

In an administration that puts a premium on keeping its internal disputes private, this struggle went on well out of the public's view. But interviews and documents trace the decisions in which the Bush administration changed the nation's approach to environmental controls, ultimately shifting the balance to the side of energy policy. Senior officials at the Environmental Protection Agency, including Mrs. Whitman, became isolated, former aides said, and several resigned.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/03/06/politics/06LOBB.html?hp

[I AM SPARTACUS]

1. could've saved the column-space and just written "campaign contribs and...

kickbacks..."

[madrchsod]

2. vanity fair

did this story several months ago. much of the magazine was devoted to the who and why of the destruction of our land . leave it to the times to be up to date on an important story. what a rag.

[jburton]

3. About a decade late on this story

Bush* did this years ago in Texas.

[kysrsoze]

4. I wish Christie Whitman would say something right now

It would mean a lot to the rest of us environmentalists. I figured she was a total RW bitch when she came into office. The media did paint a little bit of that picture when they talked about how she weighed environmentalism against energy reserves.

Now I finally understand what a tough job that is. I also know that she tried to put forth an environmental/energy policy with Paul O'Neill, which would be as sensible in both respects as possible. She tried to get us on monitoring CO2, and was completely shut down by Cheney et al. I respect Paul O'Neill even more for saying what needs to be said, regardless of the consequences involved. Of course, he still pussed out for the first time, though who knows what they threatened him with.

Anyone who hasn't read "The Price of Loyalty" is missing out. You should also read "Blinded by the Right." Between these two books, ou'll get a great history lesson about how things came to be the way they are. Very interesting together.

[Dover]

5. Cheney is the one holding the door open to industry. He should

be ousted immediately. But by whom?

[baby_bear]

6. By the voters in November

1) if our votes are counted;
2) if Cheney lasts that long on the ticket.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. I think the environmental issue would resonate with voters...

if we emphasized it in the campaign, and educated the public about Bush's policies. People of all political stripes want to protect their children's health. I believe Al Gore made a mistake in not "owning" the major issue of his political career in his campaign for President.