8-5-2001: On 7-27-01 the house voted 182 to 214 AGAINST a bill that would restore funding for 270 EPA jobs that bush eliminated.
The 270 jobs that bush wiped out were staff positions at the EPA office of compliance and enforcement. Robert Menendez D-NJ, said " Americas environment is under attack. Not too long ago presidential candidate George W. Bush spoke strong words about protecting the environment, but today his promises to the american people ring hollow. "
Bush's proposed cuts for U.S. environmental protection agency (EPA) would reduce inspection of facilities by 12 percent, criminal investigations by 11 percent, and civil investigations by 20 percent, which contributes to a nearly 70 percent drop in civil cases since the 2000 fiscal year. Jeff Ruch, executive director for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) insists that Bush's proposed environmental plan is " a shell game. "
" Cutting inspections makes it harder to track compliance, thus empeding targeted enforcement, " he said.
" At the same time, Bush is also slashing the very scientific staff needed to identify what the priority public health needs are. "
Federal involvement is needed, PEER and other groups assert, because inspector general reports in 1997 and 1998 found serious problems with the inability of states to identify or prosecute significant environmental violators. " Despite admitting serious weaknesses with state enforcement efforts, the Bush plan cuts nearly 200 (270 to be exact) EPA employees from whose jobs are to assure accountability for the federal dollars spent by the states, " Ruch said. " Bush's plan allows states to attract industry by pursuing a race to the bottom of environmental protection. "
Stewert.
