EPA leaders who worked on new rules take private jobs

[Desperadoe]

The agency said neither man had a big role. Older plants won't have to add pollution-control devices.
By Seth Borenstein
Inquirer Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Two top Environmental Protection Agency officials who were involved in easing an air-pollution rule for old power plants have taken private-sector jobs with firms that benefit from the changes.

Days after the changes in the power-plant pollution rule were announced last week, John Pemberton, the chief of staff in the EPA's air and radiation office, told colleagues he would be joining Southern Co., an Atlanta-based utility that is the nation's No. 2 power-plant polluter and was a driving force in lobbying for the rule changes.

Southern Co., which gave more than $3.4 million in political contributions over the last four years while it sought the changes, hired Pemberton as director of federal affairs.

Ed Krenik, who had been the EPA's associate administrator for congressional affairs, started work Tuesday at Bracewell & Patterson, a Houston-based law firm that coordinated several utilities' lobbying for easing the power-plant pollution rule. The firm's Washington office also shares staff with the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, which was created by utilities, including Southern Co., to be the public voice favoring the EPA rule changes.<snip>

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/6685600.htm

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Payback time.

This, obviously, should be investigated.

[salin]

3. Is there no policy that prevents such a fast revolving door

Aren't some officials restricted for a certain amount of time to go directly to the companies that they regulated?

If there isn't there should be.

This has the appearance that they were working for the companies the entire time. Whether or not that is the case, it certainly gives that appearance.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. The fundamental rules apply...

as time goes by...

An old song. I once researched the history of a controversial development of a subdivision in a wetland area. No one could ever figure out why the state couldn't stop the development of houses in an area which has forever had flooding problems. And wouldn't you know what I found? People who worked for stormwater management at the time, two years later, were selling real estate in the same area.

What was someone saying about white collar crime not having a negative effect on society...

You must remember this ... the fundamental rules apply as time goes by...

[baby_bear]

10. They can work for whomever they want

The statutory restrictions apply to what they can do on behalf of their new employer regarding issues involving the federal government. There are various restrictions, from life-time to one year.

If you are interested, a summary is provided here:
http://www.usoge.gov/pages/laws_regs_fedreg_stats/lrfs_files/othr_gdnc/og_sum207_00.pdf

Now, this does not mean that there wasn't the possibility of ethical breaches during their period of federal employment, for example, if there was a direct quid pro quo involving the pro-industry air rule roll-back. That's a different issue, one I hope gets looked into.

Of course it could all just be a curious coincence, eh?

:eyes:

s_m

[gratuitous]

2. "Neither man had a big role"

Oh, they just put in a word here or a sentence there into the new regulations. They didn't have a big role, so it's okay.

The word the media are groping for is "corruption." Will they use it any time soon?

[UpInArms]

4. shades of Wendy Gramm and Enron eom

[hang a left]

5. This is just in your face

corruption.

[DavidDvorkin]

6. They're not even bothering to pretend or cover up now

Shows how sure this corrupt administration is that the press will let it all slide by and Congress won't investigate.

[Fovea]

11. It is so bad

I am longing for the good old days of Harding, and Teapot Dome.

[baby_bear]

7. Stinks to high heaven

What does THIS mean?
<snip from the same article>
Southern Co. spokeswoman Tiffany Gilscrap said there was no ethical breach. "This has been in the works for weeks," she said.

</snip>

Huh? So?

I certainly hope someone in Congress asks for an investigation of this.

s_m

[benfranklin1776]

9. This is the height of obscenity

..since it constitutes the worst possible exploitation of government service for personal
profit imaginable because their action directly harms the safety of every American. Having received the thirty pieces of silver they each so desperately craved, I do sincerely hope they stand accountable one day for the deaths from lung cancer and the endless suffering of people from asthma that they are personally responsible for due to their herculean efforts on behalf of corporate criminals that poison the planet.

[SideshowScott]

12. SHOCKING..Um wait..Nope ..Im Shocked that they get away with it though

Why does that news not suprise me..Ya know hate to be a broken record but if this was Clintons poeple the news would be reporting this 24/7..But all the news is good for nowadays is sweeping the GOPs garbage under the rug..
I am beyond disgusted in the way that anyone that is connected to this fleeceing of america is given a free pass and allowed to continue doing this...
So basicly these people relaxed health codes and enddangered american lived for a better job??????????????
All this is is one rip off of america after another..

[otohara]

13. This Reeks

like everything else connected w/ greedy Bush administration

[kwolf68]

14. Woo boy

Corporate fascism continues unabated...These people have become so arrogant that they will do anything and trust the media won't work it, people won't notice and the shit sloppers on AM hate radio will actually make it look good.

This is what happens when you have a majority of a nation with their head up their asses, don't know one Supreme Court Justice, don't know if Iraq had WOMD, and spend hours watching mindless TV programs.

The excess commercialism and the drive to consume and acquire material possessions is distracting the average voter from ... AHHH...READING a fucking newspaper and educating themselves about the world.

It's all been neatly packaged for the right and it explains why pricks like Tom DeLay run our government and not Dennis Kucinich. I weep for this great-once- nation.

[VolcanoJen]

15. Motherf@ck@rs!!!!!

GODDAMN THEM ALL TO HELL!!

I read this article at work, and even scrawled "MUST READ!!!! FILTHY!!! NAUSEATING!!!" across the top, editorial-style, in hopes everyone would read the newspaper today.. if they could get past the Kobe headlines, of course...

I simply CANNOT WAIT for Election Season to crank up... we have got to make Americans aware of the wholesale land-grab shenanigans being conducted in our name. Are we allowed to criticize WhistleAss publicly yet????

Furious, :mad:
Jennifer