Barbara Boxer deserves 100,000 roses for this one. She's holding up the nomination of Stephen L. Johnson, President Bush's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Along with Boxer, several other democrats joined the battle and put him through the ringer at Committee Confirmation hearings. His nomination will come out of committee, but Boxer has promised to do everything she can to stop his confirmation.
Wait till you see why:
Ms. Boxer's objections were based on a little-known research program near Jacksonville, Fla., sponsored by the agency and the American Chemistry Council, that offered money to low-income families willing to allow the agency to measure the effects of pesticides on their children under 1 year of age. The project, called Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study, was suspended last year after negative public reaction that prompted the agency to call in outside experts to access its feasibility.
more
The program was limited to families in Duval County that routinely used pesticides inside their homes. It offered parents $970 over two years if they made sure their young children went about their usual activities as the use of pesticides continued. Researchers would then visit the home every three to six months to collect data.
In a letter that reached Ms. Boxer several hours after she raised her concerns, Mr. Johnson said, "No additional work will be conducted on this study subject to the outcome of external scientific and ethical review."
But that was well short of her demands. Calling the program "appalling, unethical and immoral," Ms. Boxer implored Mr. Johnson "to pull the plug on this program tomorrow" and, in an interview later, said she would do whatever she can to hold up his confirmation so long as the program has any chance of being revived.
"Until it's canceled, I will do anything I can to stop this nomination," she said. "This program is the worst kind of thing; it's environmental injustice where children are the victims."
Now, in the past, i've been fond of pointing out that we shouldn't have to be surprised when one of our leaders does something right. This, I believe, is one of those cases.
People, don'tchya know, this could be a monster issue for democratic party? The most cold-hearted red stater can't possibly think this program is ok. All they have to do is look at their kid.
Think of the commercials.
This single issue, with the right ads, could be used to win the Senate and House. If we tie this to the Republican habit of selling the public welfare out to the highest bidder, it's a wrap, folks...
Sorry to be so analytic about this - i've already seen that Pluto Page has been tied in knots over the depravity of it all. But shit. This is silver platter material.
I forget the stat - I should probably look it up, but I'm too excited right now... but something like 80-90% of Americans self-identify as environmentalists and think our government is not doing enough to protect the environment.
HELLOOOO BELTWAY DEMS!!
SMACK!!
Ya know what that was?
IT WAS A FUCKING REPUBLICAN ALBATROSS SMACKING YOU IN THE FACE!! NOW PICK IT UP AND HANG IT AROUND THEIR NECKS!!
Paging Howard Dean! Paging Howard Dean! Please open the DNC coffers and start making this an issue!
And there should be a way to tie this to Delay... I mean, he is a bug killer....