The Environment: "..the most troubling budget we've seen from this WH"

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-5607926,00.html

EPA Budget Cuts Trouble Environment Groups

Friday February 10, 2006 1:01 PM


By JOHN HEILPRIN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Grants to state and local governments for land and water conservation would be cut 40 percent, and money for the Environmental Protection Agency's network of libraries for scientists would be slashed severely under President Bush's proposed budget.

By contrast, Bush next year would spend $322 million for ``cooperative conservation'' - up from $312 million the Congress approved last year - to encourage more private landowners to protect endangered species, conserve wildlife habitats and do other nature work traditionally done by government.

Other proposed increases are $50 million more for cleaner-burning diesel engines and $5 million more for drinking water improvements.

Cuts and proposals to sell some of the government's vast land holdings have upset environmentalists.

<snip>
``This is the most troubling budget we've seen from this White House,'' said Heather Taylor, deputy legislative director for Natural Resources Defense Council.

..more..

[Joe Fields]

1. Clear Skies? Safe Forests?

Wrap a turd in a banana peel and call it fruit.

The environment is one of my biggest sore spots in this administration, and have researched and written ad-nauseum over, because it is SUCH an important issue. (or bundle of issues)

Clearcutting entire forests, further endangering dozens of threatened and endangered species, ruining indisposable watersheds, blowing tops off of mountains for a little bit more coal, selling off public lands like it was a fire sale, allowing tons more mercury in our air and water, not funding EPA superfund sites, I can go on and on.

And now he has a way (sweetheart deal) to pay for Katrina?

And on the subject of Katrina, who in their right mind would move back to that festering hole of contamination that used to be New Orleans, without first having it cleaned up and deemed certifiably livable again? I can smell disaster and a huge class action suit in the not too distant future for those that stayed or have moved back. It won't be long before people begin dying from (mysterious diseases). Of course, the government will sweep or skew any scientific evidence under the rug, as they are so good at doing.

[hatrack]

2. Yup - putting frosting on a dog turd doesn't make it a wedding cake

Here's a big :puke: for ChimpCo environmental "policy".

[G_j]

3. but the Orcs have a hero

I don't know, what can one say? Bush never met a tree (or a planet) he liked.