EPA Should Work With, Not Against, Fossil Fuel Producers

[Geee]

Investors Business Daily:

One of the Environmental Protection Agency's regional administrators resigned after his comments calling for brutal treatment of companies he alleges don't comply with environmental laws were made public. But his departure will do nothing to change behavior by an agency that is now viewed by many Americans as doing far more harm than good.

A recent national survey conducted by MWR Strategies of 1,000 likely voters shows that 65% of Americans agreed that federal regulations result in more costs than benefits. A total of 64% of moderates and 49% of liberals think that federal agencies sometime demand changes that result in little or no environmental benefit.

And fewer than a third of likely voters (28%) said that the EPA properly balances the need for economic growth with the need for environmental protection.

President Obama should now take it upon himself to listen to the American people and reverse many of EPA's harmful and overly aggressive regulatory policies. He should demand that EPA work for the best interests of the American people instead of serving the interests of extremists who view our abundant fossil fuel resources as a curse rather than a blessing.

War On Crude

EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz revealed in videotaped comments recently publicized that he shared the "philosophy of enforcement" of soldiers of the Roman Empire, who would seize control of a town by frightening the residents into submission by force. He said the Roman troops would "find the first five guys they saw, and they'd crucify them. And then, you know, that town was really easy to manage for the next few years."

Even faithful Democrats quickly distanced themselves from these comments. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said Armendariz's apology was not only warranted, but that his original comments were "disappointing."