Associated Press: Texas regulators and Republican leaders hail President Obama's clean-air surrender

[Better Believe It]

Texas regulators hail clean-air surrender
Associated Press
September 2, 2011

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas panel in charge of enforcing state environmental regulations cheered President Barack Obama's decision Friday to scrap a tougher clean-air regulation aimed at reducing health-threatening smog that had drawn consistent fire from Gov. Rick Perry.

In a dramatic reversal, Obama on Friday yielded to bitter protests from congressional Republicans and business interests who argued the rule would kill jobs in the nation's sputtering economy.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, filled with Perry appointees, had argued the tougher regulation was unnecessary. In a Friday statement, the TCEQ said it was "glad the Obama administration finally agrees with this position and has put a halt to this job killing proposal."

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, called Friday's announcement "the first EPA decision I've agreed with under the Obama administration, and I'm pleased that they are taking an important step that will help keep jobs in Texas.

Read the full article at:

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Texas-regulators-hail-clean-air-surrender-2153544.php

[aquart]

1. Fine. No rain.

[LonePirate]

2. Has anyone said what jobs were not "created" by this health saving regulation?

If given a choice I'd rather preserve health than preserve jobs and these jobs killing claims are dubious at best.

[lunasun]

9. These jobs are not the same jobs being killed by Obamacare or the ones that

could have occurred if the US debt was raised without question or the ones that union benefits kill
Im glad we have experts to predict it

If only we could be even more preemptive with these jobkillers huh?
Like when someone even thinks of these things like stricter health rules would be nice I bet

jobkilling is like the new terror already among us and we have to stomp it out

in order to get jobs

[WCGreen]

10. The oncologists and doctors who deal with pulmonary issues

are the ones who were losing customers...

[gateley]

3. What was the reasoning behind this decision - anybody know? Thanks. nt

[Better Believe It]

6. Yes. Here is the official reason given by President Obama

This Is President Obama's Full Statement:

Over the last two and half years, my administration, under the leadership of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, has taken some of the stOrongest actions since the enactment of the Clean Air Act four decades ago to protect our environment and the health of our families from air pollution. From reducing mercury and other toxic air pollution from outdated power plants to doubling the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks, the historic steps we’ve taken will save tens of thousands of lives each year, remove over a billion tons of pollution from our air, and produce hundreds of billions of dollars in benefits for the American people.

At the same time, I have continued to underscore the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty, particularly as our economy continues to recover. With that in mind, and after careful consideration, I have requested that Administrator Jackson withdraw the draft Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards at this time. Work is already underway to update a 2006 review of the science that will result in the reconsideration of the ozone standard in 2013. Ultimately, I did not support asking state and local governments to begin implementing a new standard that will soon be reconsidered.

I want to be clear: my commitment and the commitment of my administration to protecting public health and the environment is unwavering. I will continue to stand with the hardworking men and women at the EPA as they strive every day to hold polluters accountable and protect our families from harmful pollution. And my administration will continue to vigorously oppose efforts to weaken EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act or dismantle the progress we have made.

And if you want to find out the real reasons read:

Obama caves to Republican/Big Business demands: Ditches EPA's ozone regulations!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1862912

[gateley]

7. Thank you! nt

[Bluebear]

13. Yish

[Frustratedlady]

4. Then, let's see the jobs, or is this another Texas lie? EOM

[Bluebear]

5. A new item for The List!

[madrchsod]

8. actually the law would create jobs but..

let`s not truth get in the way of outrage.

[cutlassmama]

11. Texas gets 40% of it's energy from coal. We were going to have brown/black outs

by cutting the coal out completely, plus energy prices were going to skyrockets (they're already going up 13% in my city in Texas) this year. Really, he did the right thing.

[Bluebear]

12. Oh good, glad this works out for you