Posted on 01/29/2017 9:59:13 AM PST by drewh
PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. — When likely EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt walks into his first day at the office, “He’ll have 16,000 employees working against him,” Sen. James Lankford told a large gathering of libertarian donors Saturday evening.
“And I expect a flood of lawsuits over everything he does.”
Pruitt, who has been nominated to lead the EPA by President Donald Trump, is the attorney general of Lankford’s state, Oklahoma. He has faced fierce opposition from the environmentalist left.
Lankford, who chairs the Senate Oversight Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements, was joined on stage by Sens. Mike Lee and Pat Toomey. Their panel, moderated by Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips, was during a dinner on day one of Charles and David Koch’s libertarian Seminar Network in Palm Springs, Calif. (RELATED: Mike Lee Is Certain The Senate Will Confirm Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee)
Sponsored Content Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms: What You Should Know Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms: What You Should Know Yahoo Search Rare Images Of The Old West That Will Make Your Skin Crawl Rare Images Of The Old West That Will Make Your Skin Crawl Reinventing Aging Meet America's Newest "Mary Jane Millionaires" Meet America's Newest "Mary Jane Millionaires" Status Sponsored Links by Held twice a year, the seminars are a gathering place for the Seminar Network, a large group of wealthy donors interested in libertarian causes. This weekend’s seminar, held in the temperate desert outside of Los Angeles, will be the first since Trump’s election and inauguration. The network spent hundreds of millions on advertising and advocacy for limited-government politicians — namely, Republicans — running for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, but notably stayed out of the presidential primaries and race. The network is co-chaired by Charles Koch Institute President Brian Hooks and Mark Holden, general counsel for Koch Industries. (RELATED: As Trump Presidency Dawns, Kochs Plan To Bring Hundreds Of Millions To Bear On Next Two Years)
Of the three senators, Lankford was the only tepid backer of Trump, saying he would support the nominee and frequently dodging press requests to weigh in on specific incidents. Toomey withheld endorsement of Trump, though didn’t rule it out, and was a frequent critic. On Election Day, he said he was voting for Trump. Lee, who is a close friend of Sen. Ted Cruz and represents Utah’s quieter, more conflict-adverse Mormon Republican electorate, urged Trump to quit in October and declined to endorse him throughout the election. (RELATED: Three Republican Senators Kick Off Koch’s First Massive Donor Conference In Age Of Trump)
Called “A Time to Lead,” the meeting is hosted at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort and Spa, and is focused on local, grassroots initiatives Americans can take in what Hooks called “the key institutions of society”– “education, community, business and government.” (RELATED: Charles Koch Calls For Action: ‘We Might Not Have An Opportunity Again Like We Have Today’)
There are around 550 individuals included in the “principals” network meeting, which requires at least $100,000 donation to the network. In addition to these invited people, there are approximately 150 staff and speakers, Seminar Network spokesman James David told reporters. There is also a larger press presence than any previous conference has allowed.
Follow Bedford on Twitter
Editor’s Note: Christopher Bedford was a fellow at the Charles Koch Institute in 2010.
Tags: Charles Koch, Charles Koch Institute, Environmental Protection Agency, James Lankford, Mike Lee, Pat Toomey, Scott Pruitt Show comments
So what is wrong with eliminating the agency, then?
Within 10 days of Trump’s presidency, we will have down one gubmint agency.
Go Trump.
Sen. James Lankford just cut your throats. He declared war against Trump and you will pay the price. I would be really pissed off if I was one of you.
Have them sign no leak loyalty pledges.
Do away with the EPA, and give the responsibility to the states or fire the mutts. Those bastards have been screwing the USA for years, time to go.
I want the House and Senate to pass legislation putting a two year moratorium on all civil service rules affecting or related to firing and laying off any federal civil servant; allowing the newly appointed federal department and agency heads to not need to show any cause other than the decision of the executive official in charge.
16,000 new job openings for conservatives. I don’t see the problem.
Fire them
I am with you. What do we need the EPA for anyway? Do they add value? Do they build something people cannot “live without”? No they do not, they subtract from our freedoms as people. Without the EPA everything in America went along just fine. NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL that is what every one of them is.
That could work, but so could a corporate tactic. Move their offices right next to the southern wall project. Anyone that does not care to move no longer has a job, and the union can pound salt as it is their choice.
He has to remember he will have 60+ million puling for him to drain that place too
Sounds like 16,000 people need to be let go.
President Trump has already put a freeze on new hires.
Why can’t he also freeze transfers between Departments and announce a downsizing of each Department and just lay off those whose jobs are sent to the states or eliminated entirely.
It works in the private sector, why not with public employees?
Remember what Regan did to PATCO?
A savvy leadership directive would be to fix it, or kill it. And let it be known with the first issued memorandum from the boss.
Send any recalcitrant ones who can’t actually be fired to clean up, with buckets and simple sand filters, the Animas River which the EPA intentionally fouled.
But don’t send them to the beautiful parts of the River in Colorado... Send them to clean it in the rather dreary areas between Aztec and Farmington, NM.
No per-diem for motels and restaurants. Set up a tent camp.
Where did he do that? Making a prediction is not "declaring war." Regardless of Lankford's lukewarm position on Trump during the primaries, his forecast is certainly correct.
Build or lease a new office building in rural Missouri, Oklahoma, North Dakota or Montana (i.e. undesirable place for those type of people). Get it ready with equipment and everything needed to get the job done. Tell them their present building is to be vacated and used/sold for another purpose.
Then, tell them they must move to the new location or resign. With children, grandchildren, family, friends, real estate investments and their homes where they are living now, a large percentage will resign. That leaves a much smaller group with which to work with to change attitudes.
He said all 16,000 would be working against Trump. Now once again, If I was one of those employees I would be mad at such a statement. Wait to see how this works out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.