Politics of Smog and Other Climate Distortions

Jackson/Obama Versus Cantor/Boehner

EPA wanted to tighten ozone standards from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va) says such proposed regulations are jobs killers. President Obama decided to shelve the ozone standard rule for now because of the jobs issue.  Specifically, the August jobs report of no new jobs being created probably pushed the president to delay the tighter ozone standards until 2013. Ground level air and global climate change issues have been held hostage to politics for decades.  It is one reason the Center relies more on technological solutions than political solutions to smog and climate change problems. 

Cantor lists his 'Top 10 Job-Destroying Regulations:' [7 of the 10 are environmental regulations]

See Full Explanations on Cantor's Site (parentheses show implementation times)

1) NLRB’s Boeing Ruling (Week of September 12)
2) Utility MACT and CSAPR (Week of September 19):
3) Boiler MACT (Week of October 3):
4) Cement MACT (Week of October 3):
5) Coal Ash (October/November):
6) Grandfathered Health Plans (November/December):
7) Ozone Rule (Winter):
8) Farm Dust (Winter):
9) Greenhouse Gas (Winter):
10) NLRB’s Ambush Elections (Winter):


The politics involved in evaluating the effects of these environmental regulations favor the job-creation imperative at the moment over the health and economic benefits of lives saved, chronic illnesses prevented, hospital visits avoided and sick days not taken. 

The two major parties have also switched sides on climate change mitigation via Cap and Trade too.