Lisa Jackson fact checks scare tactics of EPA opponents

[Willinois]

EPA administrator Lisa Jackson has a good column that fact checks the falsehoods and scare tactics Republicans are using to attack EPA.

She also made this excellent argument that we can both create jobs and protect the environment.

Quote:Some in Washington are working to weaken safeguards and undermine laws that protect our families from pollution that causes asthma, cancer and other illnesses, especially in children. Big polluters are lobbying congress for loopholes to use our air and water as dumping grounds. The result won't be more jobs; it will be more mercury in our air and water and more health threats to our kids. As a senior official from the Bush EPA recently wrote, "Abolishing the EPA will not cause a revival of America's economy, but it will certainly result in a major decline in public health and our quality of life."

It's time for a real conversation about protecting our health and the environment while growing our economy. EPA's 40 years of environmental and health protection demonstrate our nation's ability to create jobs while we clean our air, water and land.

When big polluters distort EPA's proposals as a drag on our economy, they ignore the fact that clean air, clear water and healthy workers are all essential to American businesses.

Shouldn't it be the media that tells us when Republicans are lying about EPA? I guess you can't expect much when the media takes advertising dollars from the same polluting companies that fund GOP campaigns.

And I'm purposely not linking to this blog at Huffington Post because they currently have a misleading, BS teaser headline that bashes solar power for no good reason. HuffPo has dropped the pretense of being progressive and is now shoveling right wing horseshit.

[nofurylike]

outstanding! thank you for that, Wiliinois!!

Quote:Some leaders in congress have already stated their intent to roll back
critical environmental protections when they return to session.
Misleading claims are translating into actions that could dismantle
clean air standards that protect our families from mercury, arsenic,
smog and carbon dioxide. All of this is happening despite the evidence
of history, despite the evidence of Congress' own objective Research
Service, and despite the need for job creation strategies that go well
beyond simply undermining protections for our health, our families and
our communities.

Telling the truth about our economy and our environment is about
respecting the priorities of the American people. More than 70 percent
of Americans want EPA to continue to do its job effectively. Those same
Americans want to see a robust economic recovery. We have the capacity
to do both things if we don't let distractions keep us from the real
work of creating jobs.

on edit: ditto on huffpo!