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August 11, 2003
The Shamelessness continues
Bush Picks Utah Gov. Leavitt to Head EPA
Highlights of Governor Leavitt's environmental policies:
-- Wants to give more regulatory power to the states and less to the Federal government. As a citizen of a state where the Department of Environmental Management only does anything because EPA makes it, I say bad idea.
-- Approved a highway extension through wetlands near the Great Salt Lake, only to be blocked by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
-- Called a "growth summit" that in turn called for "local-based, free market" approaches to preserving open space. Yeah, right. (I actually am in favor of a free market approach to saving the environment, but have noticed that what Republicans mean by that tends to be making everything voluntary.)
Yep, no difference between Bush and Gore.
Posted by Mac Thomason at August 11, 2003 04:01 PM
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Comments
Ah, another fine choice in nomination from the Best President Ever.
Posted by: Bret at August 11, 2003 04:08 PM
Big advocate of repeal of Clinton's Roadless Initiative, too. All in all, probably another "what's good for GM" kind of schnook.
Posted by: Linkmeister at August 11, 2003 06:47 PM
It doesn't matter who heads the EPA in this administration, as we found out whenever Whitman tried to push for some maybe-not-totally-irresponsible policy. Everything comes straight from the White House with the Rove seal of approval. It's similar to the Treasury Secretary, the subject of TNR's cover story last week. That position (hell, the whole department) is just a figurehead for dispensing this White House's talking points.
Posted by: Haggai at August 12, 2003 01:59 AM
The so called "free market" approach to management of federal lands is decidely limited in scope. For instance, the BLM sells grazing rights to federal lands, but the pool of bidders is limited to the local ranchers. Ducks Unlimited (to name only one group of potential bidders), is not allowed to pay good money for grazing rights because they don't own local cattle (and their bids might drive up the price).
Posted by: etc. at August 12, 2003 07:24 AM
Reminds me of Watt and Gorsuch in the Reagan administration--only in reverse. The Utah governor, if confirmed, will just be the "talking tool" of Bush. Whitman was tired of being a "tool", even so.
Posted by: Steve Plonk at August 12, 2003 09:31 AM