John Conyers:Politicization at the EPA

[cal04]

http://johnconyers.com/node/210

As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I have spent a lot of time focusing on the egregious politicization of the Department of Justice under President Bush. But political interference with the basic functions of the Executive Branch in this Administration extends far beyond DOJ. Yesterday, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a disturbing report on politicization at the Environmental Protection Agency. The report was based on a questionnaire filled out by nearly 1,600 EPA scientists and showed that 60 percent of respondents experienced what they saw as political interference in their work over the last five years.

As one of the report's co-authors told the Associated Press, "'we have hundreds of scientists saying there is a problem' with assuring scientific integrity within the federal government's principal regulatory agency." Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has said that his Committee will investigate and sent a letter to the EPA Administrator, Stephen Johnson, asking him to be prepared to answer questions on the matter when he appears next month to testify.

For more information on the matter, and to read the report as well as Chairman Waxman's letter, check out the excellent post at TPMMuckraker.


links
EPA scientists complain about political pressure.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/04/epa_scientists_complain_about.php

Survey: Half of EPA Scientists Complain of Political Interference, Waxman to Investigate
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/survey_half_of_epa_scientists.php#more

[navarth]

1. thanks!