Sen. Clinton to Block Bush EPA Nominee

Associated Press ^ | 9-6-03

[dogbyte12]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday she planned to block President Bush's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency over an internal report saying the EPA misled New Yorkers about health risks after the World Trade Center attack.

In a telephone interview, Clinton told The Associated Press she would place a hold on the nomination of Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, a procedural move that would prevent the full Senate from voting on his confirmation.

``This is an effort to get the administration that he wants to join to take responsibility,'' she said.

She said she held no personal grudge against Leavitt but hopes to use the hold on his nomination to force the administration to answer questions.

``This is a very big issue,'' she said. ``It not only has to do with the health and safety of the people I represent. It has to do with the credibility and trust of this entire government.''

A spokeswoman for Leavitt did not immediately return a call seeking comment. There was no immediate comment from the White House.

The report, issued by the EPA's inspector general Aug. 22, said the agency gave New Yorkers misleading assurances that there was no air-quality health risk after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack that spread debris, smoke and dust across lower Manhattan.

The EPA issued five press releases within 10 days of the attacks and four more by the end of 2001 reassuring the public about air quality. But it wasn't until June 2002 that the agency determined that air quality had returned to pre-Sept. 11 levels -- well after respiratory ailments and other problems began to surface in hundreds of workers cleaning dusty offices and apartments.

The White House ``convinced EPA to add reassuring statements and delete cautionary ones'' by having the National Security Council control EPA communications after the attack, said the report by EPA Inspector General Nikki L. Tinsley.

The administration has defended its decision, saying it was justified by national security concerns.

Bush nominated Leavitt, a Republican known as a moderate on environmental issues, to take over the EPA after administrator Christie Whitman announced she would leave the post.

[dogbyte12]

Labor Day has passed. Now it's going to get really nasty.

[Dane]

The definiton of the word "petulance" in the Webster's Dictionary should be Hillary's face.

[ambrose]

she's still thinking of running.

[Jeff Chandler]

I think Bush should act IMMEDIATELY and have Hillary over for dinner at the Whitehouse where he can grant her the opportunity to select the new head of the EPA. Hit her with maximum NEW TONE.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

The logical and inevitable end result of our GOP leadership's having rolled over so disgracefully, re: Estrada.

In simple schoolyard terms: the swaggering bullies now know that they can take our milk money with impunity.

[AMNZ]

To me that would be a declaration of war. I would do more than sick Frist on it.

[livius]

Well, blocking the judicial nominees has proved to be easy and with no adverse effect upon the Dems, so why shouldn't they go ahead and block any Bush nominee for any position?

[Glenn]

This is extortion. She's looking for Federal money to pay for the inevitable mile-long string of lawyers who will begin to sue.

[Old Sarge]

This is getting REALLY sad. The most junior Senator in the joint can dictate policy to the Executive Branch, just as if She never left.

Shadow Government, and no mistake.

[Ann Archy]

Extortion.....and JUST how can the EPA work WELL without a LEADER to LEAD them...huh Hillary???

I think she has OVERREACHED this time.

[Destro]

Actually--I wish we could block as many people as possible--not for Hilary's [urpose just so the we can have less people in federal govt dictating to us.

The more disfunctional the Federal Govt is the safer and freerer I feel.

[Peach]

Ditt your #9.

[PISANO]

I know I will be raked over the coals on this one but I think this is a perfect opportunity to get rid of an ENTIRE department of our FED GOVERNMENT that is totally useless. NO head of the EPA.........OK........disban the entire department. Case closed.

[Ann Archy]

Never will happen...NEVER....so too on the Education Dept.....USELESS, but will never be disbanded.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Samurai_Jack]

NO head of the EPA.........OK........disban the entire department. Case closed.

Oh Yeah, I like that strategy...

The enFIREonmentalists protection agency is a cancerous left wing organ in the first place. This could backfire on hitlery big time.

[putupon]

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday she planned to block President Bush's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency

For some reason Frist and the GOP Senate fed the 'Beast Estrada meat; when it starts feeding, it can't stop.

[rwfromkansas]

How can she single-handedly stop this nomination?

Man the Senate has messed up rules!

[concerned about politics]

``This is a very big issue,'' she said. ``It not only has to do with the health and safety of the people I represent. It has to do with the credibility and trust of this entire government.''

She has a lot of nerve. Her husband was once president - and she talks about credibility and trust?

Buy "Losing Bin Ladin" for everyone you know. Push that book. She's trying to distract from it.

[Alter Kaker]

The more disfunctional the Federal Govt is the safer and freerer I feel.

Go to Somalia. No functional government. Is paradise?