Watching the EPA

Just two months ago, President Obama reportedly redefined his relationships with enterprise, business and markets by signing an executive order that requires federal agencies to "ensure that regulations protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth.   And it orders a government-wide review of the rules already on the books to remove outdated regulations that stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive."

Toward a 21st Century Regulatory System

They apparently only got the "safety, health and environment" part of memo at the Environmental Protection Agency, which it is busily addressing carbon emissions according to its own lights.  The EPA regulates pursuant to Congressional legislation such as the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970, and Amendments of 1977 and 1990.  

In 2009, the EPA determined that greenhouse gasses threatened the American People's health and welfare, and were a fit subject matter for regulation as air pollutants.  Never mind that a drafter of the Act (and its amendments), liberal Rep. John Dingell (MI), disavows such an interpretation, and professes that the term "pollutant" was not meant to address climate.  The EPA has thenceforth been busy imposing climate regulations on carbon emissions that President Obama couldn't push through a Democrat-dominated Congress.  How's that for transparency?  Noman notes that "Cap and Trade" was nearly the only item on the leftist wish list that the President wasn't able to shove down the country's throat while so deftly using the "opportunity" of the crisis.

Carbon and Democracy

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, (now under the control of those mean and stupid Republicans) thinks it unconscionable that a politically driven agency of the federal government should think itself autonomous and beyond the reach of the people's representatives.  EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson invokes science rather than politics to justify the EPA's incursions into economy shackling.  The Agency undoubtedly considers the revelations of climate fraud at East Anglia unworthy of notice.

President Obama noted in his January Op-Ed that "if it goes in your coffee, it is not hazardous waste."  Perhaps he could instruct his people that the same sensible logic applies to exhaled air.  If it comes out of people's lungs...