Court Encourages GOP's Anti-EPA Campaign

The recent Supreme Court decision confirming that the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for developing and enforcing environmental regulations rather than the court system, is a mixed blessing. The effect of this unanimous decision is to reaffirm responsibility for environmental protection to one agency. This decision gives further impetus to the budget-cutting efforts of the House Republicans to reduce EPA efforts to protect Americans against polluted air and water. This decision is a gift for future administrations disinclined to be proactive in protecting the environment.

 

The Republican goal was reported  in a Washington Post article the same day as the Supreme Court decision. This article reveals that the Republicans were chagrined that EPA rather than reducing its fiscal and staff resources to fight polluters responded to their recent budget cuts by reducing state grants. They have indicated that for the coming fiscal year, that they will seek to curb the agencies ability to impose mandatory limits on greenhouse gases.

 

In essence this Supreme Court decision has further emboldened a party already committed to protecting corporate profits at the expense of public health.