Bush's EPA Pressuring N.C. to Relax Air Pollution Rules

If the Bush administration has its way, North Carolina's tougher air pollution rules will be scaled back to satisfy the wishes of some of El Presidente's biggest campaign contributors. "The Bush administration in December 2002 issued changes to EPA rules, creating broader exemptions for industries to expand without installing new pollution equipment. States operating their own air programs, such as North Carolina, have until 2006 to decide how to change them in response." (N&O coverage here.)

One option supposedly being considered by the Environmental Management Commission is ... doing nothing. That is, ignoring the Bush administration's laxer rules and keeping North Carolina's more stringent. But Keith Overcash, head of the N.C. Division of Air Quality, is quoted in this morning's N&O saying, "We have been talking to EPA about the option of doing nothing," Overcash said. "Verbally, we have been told that is not an option. We're trying to come up with a rule that EPA will accept so we don't jeopardize putting our program in bad straits with EPA."

Does anybody remember the gospel of state's rights, preached by the Republicans when it's to their advantage, and actively ignored by the Republicans when it might impinge on their high-dollar donors, as in this case?

These are not only hypocrites. They are hypocrites with a death wish.