EPA Confirmation Hearings, Obama’s Stimulus and Ken Salazar for Interior
Lisa Jackson responds to questions during her confirmation hearing to become the next head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
President-elect Obama proposes a massive economic stimulus package.
Colorado Senator Ken Salazar is nominated to be the next Secretary of the Interior.
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1. ENVIRONMENT
Lisa Jackson responds to questions during her confirmation hearing to become the next head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis on the most important decision Jackson will face at EPA:
“The most critical decision Lisa Jackson will have to make if she is confirmed as EPA Administrator is whether to affirm or reject a finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new motor vehicles endanger public health or welfare. A positive finding of endangerment would require EPA to regulate GHG emissions from new motor vehicles under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act. In Massachusetts v. EPA (2007), New Jersey and the other plaintiffs demanded that EPA find endangerment and establish first-ever GHG emission standards for new motor vehicles. As CEI and numerous other analysts have documented, EPA is not obligated to make an endangerment finding or establish GHG emission standards.”
2. ECONOMY
President-elect Obama proposes a massive economic stimulus package.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Special Projects Counsel Hans Bader critiques the proposal:
“Barack Obama claims his trillion-dollar stimulus package, financed through new deficit spending, will “create or save” 3 million jobs. That’s pure fantasy — even given the wiggle-phrase “or save” — but even if it worked, it wouldn’t be worth it. That works out to more than $330,000 per job! Like the Biblical Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage, we are selling our children and grandchildren into debt just to increase employment in the U.S. by a tiny percentage.”
3. POLITICS
Colorado Senator Ken Salazar is nominated to be the next Secretary of the Interior.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Jonathan Tolman on Salazar’s generally moderate record:
“President-elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of Interior, while generally lauded by most environmental groups appears to have a more moderate side when it comes to some energy and environmental issues. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), is a 5th generation rancher from the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado with strong ties to the ranching and agriculture community. And while the League of Conservation Voters has given him a score of 82, he has parted with the environmental left on a number of issues. For example he was among a handful of democratic senators to receive a 0 score fro the Humane Society.”
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