Lisa Perez Jackson Is About To Become Center Of Universe

If the Earth is the most important planet in the universe, and if global warming is the most important environmental issue on this planet, then U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, right, is about to become the center of the climate change universe. With Copenhagen being pronounced a bust even before the conference begins and with dim prospects for getting climate change legislation passed in the U.S. Senate, the Environmental Protection Agency becomes the vehicle for implementing national climate change regulations. All acknowledge that legislation would be better than regulations in implementing climate change mitigation. So we would not necessarily want to be in Administrator Jackson's shoes. But then again, maybe she likes litigation.

Although Glenn Beck will lead the assault team, he will not only be joined by conservatives on the right, but environmental justice activists also oppose cap and trade too. Although the Center supports climate change legislation and cap and trade, we will not be much protection for Jackson. Let's hope the other environmental groups will step up to provide more defense against the clear onslaught about to be visited upon the adminstrator. Maybe Al Gore and John Podesta have some new tricks up their sleeves. Or maybe President Obama will pull off some magic at Copenhagen. Is he still going? And does he really want to mix it up with the Chamber of Commerce over climate change when they think it is a jobs killer at a time when jobs are desperately needed? The Center believes cap and trade would be a huge jobs generater, but the Chamber is not listening to us. Good luck administrator Jackson. We are here for you, but we are not that big on litigation. [More from The Wall Street Journal, 11/17/09)