California’s Environment, Executive Privilege, and the Bush Administration

By Mike Young

It’s the weekend, which means the Bush Administration’s out trying to gut environmental protections while nobody is reading the news. This weekend, while the press is focused on Scott McClellan’s testimony and presidential campaign flip-flopping from both candidates, what could have been a leading story was buried from the headlines: White House invokes executive privilege in EPA inquiry. Fortunately, the story was not completely ignored, but not enough people will ever hear about it.

This portion of the continuing epic confrontation between California and the Bush Administration starts last week. The California League of Conservation Voters was treated to a special conversation with Congressman Henry Waxman, who as the chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has been the on the offense around the “mystery” (aka bonus treat to the automotive and oil interests) of the EPA’s decision to deny CA a waiver to enact stringent tailpipe emission standards to stop global warming. In the candid discussion, Waxman admitted his concern over the entire issue. Staffers within the EPA had all be in favor of granting California’s waiver and some even noted that the Head of the EPA Stephen Johnson was ready to grant it, as well. However, one call from the White House caused Johnson to completely change his position, deny the waiver, and publicly argue against it. “We want to know who he talked to and what they said,” Waxman told CLCV.

Of course, it’s not looking like that’s going to happen now.

In the tradition of the Bush Administration (meaning the pattern of ignoring Constitutional checks and balances), late Friday afternoon, the White House once again ignored congressional subpoenas for documents pertaining to the EPA’s decision; once again they are abusing executive privilege. The press noted Congressman Waxman’s dissatisfaction:

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