Politico’s normal, awful story on EPA’s new air rule

[n2doc]

Tuesday night, the top story on Politico.com was headlined, “‘The most expensive regulation ever.’” It is unremarkable in that it follows the same template as a thousand pieces like it, with quotes from both sides on all the right beats and no big factual errors. In a sense, though, it is a perfect artifact, a case study in how the U.S. political media handles air regulations, environmentalists, and the left generally.

Here’s the lede:

The Obama administration will issue a draft air pollution rule on Wednesday that business groups charge would be the costliest regulation of all time — setting up a test of how hard the president will fight for his environmental agenda against a newly strengthened GOP.

Right off the bat, here are the two narrative frames through which Washington understands air regulations: first, their alleged high cost, and second, as a move to the left, which everyone in D.C. knows is perilous almost by definition. (Why, Republicans might get upset and oppose you!)

Consider an alternate lede:

The Obama administration will issue a draft air pollution rule on Wednesday that health scientists say could prevent thousands of premature deaths a year — though Congressional Republicans are fighting hard to block the rule on behalf of industry groups.

Both ledes are factually accurate. The first lets business groups and costs set the stage, the second lets scientists and health benefits set the stage. How might you choose between them?

more

http://grist.org/politics/politicos-normal-awful-story-on-epas-new-air-rule/

[Fred Sanders]

1. The right wing always gets to frame the debate, and they own it by default when liberals run away

from their President and party leader and two-faced embraces of things like XL by some...the inconsistent message of liberals versus the iron clad consistency of wingnuttery lets them do it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Yep, that's profit-friendly framing at its worst

Other media can be better:

EPA to propose tougher rules on smog-causing ozone, setting up clash with GOP

The Obama administration on Wednesday announced plans to tighten restrictions on smog-causing ozone, a move that will address a major cause of respiratory illness for millions of Americans while also setting the stage for new clashes with industry and the Republican-controlled Congress.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-to-propose-tougher-rules-on-smog-causing-ozone-setting-up-clash-with-gop/2014/11/26/0a4670ce-756a-11e4-bd1b-03009bd3e984_story.html

Neutral or tending slightly towards the industry interests:

EPA to Propose Limit to Ozone Air Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to announce Wednesday a sweeping federal air-pollution standard limiting ground-level ozone, or smog, in the atmosphere, according to people familiar with the plan.

The proposal will likely reanimate a battle between businesses and environmental groups that has been dormant for three years. In 2011, the EPA estimated that the proposed standard—set then at the toughest level the agency had yet considered—could cost utilities and other businesses as much as $90 billion a year. President Barack Obama delayed issuing it.

Exposure to ground-level ozone can exacerbate a range of respiratory problems, including asthma, and the public-health benefits of stricter limitations could reach tens of billions of dollars, the EPA has said.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/epa-to-propose-limit-to-ozone-air-pollution-wednesday-sources-say-1416966904

or goddamn awful (but we expect that from the Washington Times):

Obama’s latest regulatory power grab aims at ozone

President Obama on Wednesday checked off yet another major item on environmentalists’ wish list by targeting smog, further solidifying his legacy on green issues but also angering big business and giving Republicans fresh ammunition heading into the final 24 months of this administration.

After delaying the action for nearly four years, the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released new tentative rules on ozone, meant to drastically cut the amount of smog produced by power plants and factories.

The proposal — praised by environmental and health organizations but blasted by Republicans and business groups, who say it will cost jobs and create a drag on the economy — would lower the threshold for ozone from 75 parts per billion to 65 to 70 parts per billion.

The EPA also is considering even more onerous standard of 60 parts per billion, officials said, and powerful environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council already are pushing the administration to embrace the lower figure.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/26/obama-formally-proposes-new-smog-ozone-standards/