Boxer Chastises EPA Administrator For Redacting Documents With Duct Tape: ‘I’m Worked Up’
Boxer Chastises EPA Administrator For Redacting Documents With Duct Tape: ‘I’m Worked Up’
In December, EPA administrator Stephen Johnson rejected “California’s long-standing request for a waiver from federal law to be able to implement its own landmark regulations to slash greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.”
Today, Johnson came under harsh criticism from Environment and Public Works Committee chairwoman Barbara Boxer. She blasted Johnson for refusing come to California and meet with residents, and for censoring documents with white duct tape on the EPA’s decision-making process:
Colleagues, this is the tape, this is the tape that was put over — finally the administration had a way to use duct tape. This administration, this is what they did to us. They put this white tape over the documents and staff had to stand here. It’s just unbelievable. [...]
I mean what a waste of our time. This isn’t national security. This isn’t classified information, colleagues. This is information the people deserve to have. And this is not the way we should run the greatest government in the world. It does not befit us. So that’s why I’m worked up about it and think we have been treated in a very shabby way.
Watch it:
Yesterday, Boxer released excerpts from an October presentation, revealing that Johnson had ignored the advice of EPA staff who were in favor of granting California the waiver. The excerpts came out after Boxer’s staff removed the duct tape from the documents and transcribed handwritten notes, under the supervision of EPA staffers.
As Boxer noted, after all this time, looks like the Bush administration finally found a use for its duct tape.
UPDATE: TPMmuckraker has more from the hearing.
Transcript:
BOXER: Well, since Sen. Inhofe went over about 30 seconds and I had 27 seconds left, I’m going to use the remainder of my time before I turn to colleagues to respond.
Let’s be clear. This is the first time a waiver has ever been denied outright 50 times. And I ask the administrator to please come. I asked him in friendship to please come to California, to please face the people who he had turned down and explain to them why. Gov. Schwarzenegger sent a representative there. The Attorney General was there. There were citizens there, colleagues. The fact is, Mr. Johnson refused to come.
So I said ok, you can’t come. Could you send someone else? No. No one else. Could you send documents if no person can come? No. There were no documents.
And in my — in all the years I have been around, I have not seen a committee treated this way. And Sen. Inhofe says that he was treated this way or the committee was by the Clinton administration. I can truly say that I don’t recall that, but if it was so, it was wrong then and it’s wrong now.
As I say, I think it’s important to put in the record that we asked him to come because we thought it would be a benefit to the people, because the people need to understand why this happened. I said before I’d show you the kind of lack of cooperation we had.
Colleagues, this is the tape, this is the tape that was put over — finally the administration had a way to use duct tape. This administration, this is what they did to us. They put this white tape over the documents and staff had to stand here. It’s just unbelievable. And pull off out of the sentences here.
I mean what a waste of our time. This isn’t national security. This isn’t classified information, colleagues. This is information the people deserve to have. And this is not the way we should run the greatest government in the world. It does not befit us. So that’s why I’m worked up about it and think we have been treated in a very shabby way.
I would call on Sen. Lieberman. Senator, we have four minutes.
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I like the way that Inhofe threw in the standard “Clinton did it, too”.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:57 pmWhy is Barbara Boxer holding a bowl full of confetti? Is she going to a parade?
January 24th, 2008 at 2:03 pmI know there’s a writer’s strike and all, but someone needs to tell the White House that Jon Stewart doesn’t need their charity. He’s perfectly capable of making up jokes about them on his own. They don’t need to supply the punchlines, too.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pmYou can’t continue to rape the environment and support your big oil buddies if you are suddenly held to accountability.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pmLAFWH- slither back into your sewer.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pmLooks like plenty of duct tape to use on a few trolls around here.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pmThe “People”.
Republicans hate “The People”.
Isn’t it always some fat suit with a huge sagging chin sticking it to the People?
January 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pmWe eagerly await something more than talk
January 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pmThis administration is a joke. I wonder if Cheney makes this shit up to see what he can get away with.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm“Hate” troll sure has a very large vocabulary for expressing his own aggression and hate, doesn’t he?
January 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pmBoxer is truly a nutjob. Can’t wait to expose her ties to Hillary in the general. We’ll use her to choke Clinton.
Boxer is the most vicious partisan in Congress.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — January 24, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
didn’t take the desperate, pathetic fool long to resurface.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pmThe crayons melted due to anti-science environmental policy, so they had to use duct tape. Is that Lame Duct tape?
January 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pmOooooooo, a ‘vicious’ partisan, is she?
No wonder she’s one of my favorites.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:13 pmSo what will she or any other member of Congress do? I have odds on nothing, but they may just write a letter. I’m just so unsure!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pmThis administration is a joke. I wonder if Cheney makes this shit up to see what he can get away with.
Comment by dim wit — January 24, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Y’know, DW, that is the only explanation that makes sense for some of this sh!t.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:20 pmAn incompetent bush employee?
Must be a retired general.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pmvicious? Partisan most likely but vicious? I don’t think you understand what that word means.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pm“Liberal our filled with Hate”. Sheesh Look up “Projection”…
January 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pmComment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — January 24, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
Boxer put your fav. Mukasey in the Justice Dept. You should be thrilled, reptard! LOL.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:23 pmWell, what do you expect. As long as the Democrats allow them to get away with this kind of thing, and as long as impeachment is off the table, this is what we are going to get out of this government for the next year.
So, Barbara, are you prepared to do something about this?
January 24th, 2008 at 2:23 pmWhy isn’t Senator Boxer the leader of the Senate, she’s got bigger balls than Reid!
Go BB!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pmBoxer is the most vicious partisan in Congress.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate
Actually, she is one of the few who will b!tch slap the Republicans so people like you, Hate, are scared of her. If you mean that you will link her with Hillary and thus defeat her for re-election, good luck with that. There is no way California is going to throw Barbara Boxer out. She is their only true liberal Senator. Now Feinstein, I doubt she will run again because she knows that she wouldn’t be re-elected if she did.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pmWould any of the trolls care to address the shameful and childish behavior by Bush appointee Johnson? No? I thought as much.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:28 pmSo Barbara, you’re talkin’ the talk. Gonna walk the walk. Gonna get some of your cowardly friends in our cowardly congress and make somebody do the chicken over this duct tape caper? Whatcha gonna do Barb watcha gonna DO!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:28 pmdidn’t take the desperate, pathetic fool long to resurface.
Comment by LividLib
Which one do you think it is. I vote for Jason.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:29 pmBoxer won’t have to be a vicious partisan after the election. There won’t be any other party in government, except in a nominal sense.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:29 pmI do have to say that I like the smell of burning troll in the morning.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:30 pmBoxer put your fav. Mukasey in the Justice Dept. You should be thrilled, reptard! LOL.
Comment by republican school bus
Sorry, you got that one wrong. It was Feinstein who got Mukasey appointed along with Chuck Shumer. Barbara Boxer voted against him.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pmBoxer is the most vicious partisan in Congress.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate
says the guy who’s username is “liberals are filled with hate”
January 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pmBarbara Boxer punched herself in the face when she voted for Mukasey. We no longer take you seriously, Barb!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:33 pmComment by bilbobaggins — January 24, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
BULL$IT!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pm‘Liberals are filled with hate’…towards the troll’s skimpy ass!
ROTFL!!!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pmI love the smell of napalmed trolls in the morning. It smells like….victory.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:37 pmBilbo #23 you are right on point. Boxer has continually supported the progressive issues. She will do whatever the committee allows her to do officially and whatever else she can to keep these issues in the forefront. I have emailed her on many occasions regarding issues I am concerned about and she always replies (I know, her staff) promptly. Feinstein could care less and is behaving that way. I hate to see libs eating their own – we really need to stand behind those few senators and congress people who are fighting the good fight.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:37 pmThese are three Think Progress Headlines today:
- Does Safire disapprove of Kristol at NYT?
- Morning Joe Hosts Blast Gibson’s Ledger Comments: ‘Sick,’ ‘Unconsciable,’ ‘Mean-Spirited’ And ‘Hateful’
- O’Reilly: ‘I really don’t go’ on the Internet
This what you list in your mission statement:
What We’re Fighting Against: -Corrupt Establishment
So why no coverage of the heated debate in the Senate on the FISA legislation? Is this not at least as important as Bill O’Reilly?
If I promise not to call you Think Ostrich for one week for your refusal to cover the Sibel Edmonds story will your report on Chris Dodd’s filibuster? Can we work out an agreement?
January 24th, 2008 at 2:38 pmI agree with #36
January 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pmdidn’t take the desperate, pathetic fool long to resurface.
Comment by LividLib
Which one do you think it is. I vote for Jason.
Comment by bilbobaggins — January 24, 2008 @ 2:29 pm
I doubt it’s Jason. He likes to see his name in print too much to use another screen name. I’d guess Mr.P.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:41 pmSo trolls – do you think it is in the best interest of the people that Congress spends time peeling copious amounts of tape off of documents that bear not on our national security because Bush et al. are obstructionist assclowns.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pmEverybody — I love seeing ‘republicans hate facts’ smoking the trolls — it’s great!!!
And we’ll love the smell of smoked trolls come Nov. 3rd!! ROTFL!!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:45 pmComment by bilbobaggins — January 24, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
BULL$IT!
Comment by republican school bus
You are correct, Barbara didn’t vote against him, but she also didn’t vote for him. She didn’t vote for some reason I don’t know. But here was here opinion of Mukasey:
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who opposed Mukasey, said Bush would likely veto a law against waterboarding. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., also was opposed. “We need an attorney general who is going to be the people’s lawyer, not the president’s lawyer,” she said.
It was Shumer and Feinstein that stopped the Democratic filibuster of his nomination so that’s why most liberals hold them responsible for Mukasey being appointed.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:47 pmI doubt it’s Jason. He likes to see his name in print too much to use another screen name. I’d guess Mr.P.
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian
I believe Jason has been banned so he would have to come back with a new moniker.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:48 pmI doubt it’s Jason. He likes to see his name in print too much to use another screen name. I’d guess Mr.P.
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian — January 24, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
It does seem likely, given Mr Pee’s penchant for derailing threads just for the attention.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:49 pmIf we recycle the duct tape & put it on the President & his henchmen’s mouths for, say for about 11 months, we’ll all be better off.
And safer.
Now that’s Homeland Security.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:50 pmYep the issues are a little weak today. But the day is far from over. Hats of to Barbara Boxer for the showing of a strong backbone.
The EPA should never of denied California in the firs place. I mentioned this yesterday already but this process is being drawn out more than it should.
Robert
January 24th, 2008 at 2:50 pmThe Issue | http://www.TheIssue.com
I agree with #36
Comment by hellinabucket — January 24, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
me too.
C&L is covering it, some good links too…
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/24/fisa-debate-going-on-now/
but it’s been a couple of hours since that was posted…
January 24th, 2008 at 2:50 pmRegarding Boxer’s vote for or against Mukasey, it looks like she voted no. Source: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barbara_Boxer#Confirmation_of_Michael_Mukasey
So, unless this source is wrong, you are wrong republican school bus.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pmIt is time for the Democrats to simply take action. The Republicans must be forced to filibuster in the Senate, contempt charges must be brought, impeachment proceedings brought against those refusing to comply with document requests. The Democrat party actually does look like the party of girlee men. Boxer may rant all she wants. It is far past time for action.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:54 pm#34 Uncle Ho, you said it better than me. Perfect.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:55 pmVerbalkint; thank you, kindly.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:57 pmDuct tape. There is so much you can do with duct tape. Like maybe a crown for his Chimpliness’ head. Just make sure you cover his mouth – so we don’t have to listen to him until he’s out the door.
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff81/fairhenbane/ducttapeshrub.jpg
January 24th, 2008 at 3:03 pmThanks Katy and Hellinabucket.
For information on the FISA legislation Firedoglake is doing live blogging. Glenn Greenwald wrote two searing posts over at Salon dot com. And Nicole at CrooksandLiars has been doing a great job (by the way she was also courageous enough to post on Sibel Edmonds).
I urge everyone to continue to call as many Senators as you can and tell them to support Chris Dodd’s filibuster. I made 7 calls last night and 5 calls today.
Everyone has time to make one call/email. No excuses. And then get your friends and family to do the same.
1-800-828-0498 (white house operator, ask to connect to your rep.)
January 24th, 2008 at 3:06 pmWhat I am frankly amazed by is that the EPA apparently doesn’t know how to redact documents?! Don’t they take classes in this kind of stuff? I’m sure the OVP could arrange some seminars for the other agencies.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pmAn incompetent bush employee?
Must be a retired general.
Comment by republican school bus — January 24, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Hey Mr. P, you off your meds again. You’re going to get thrown out of here you know.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:39 pmAnd we’ll love the smell of smoked trolls come Nov. 3rd!! ROTFL!!
Comment by republican school bus — January 24, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Everybody knows your a troll trying to pass as a progressive. Take your meds P.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:42 pmIt would be just like P to come back here as two different people and argue with himself. Especially when he’s all worked up on meth.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:44 pmBut they haven’t found a use for the visqueen, yet have they? Well, maybe when they finish white-washing the Constitution, they can use it to cover the rug in the oval office.
January 24th, 2008 at 3:48 pmBarbara is a disgrace to this country and her state. She propogated lies against Clarence Thomas and defended Clinton when scores of women accused him of sexual harrassment, even rape. She sympathizes with cold blooded killers, but sanctions the murder of babies.
She will burn in hell and most of you will be with her.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — January 24, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
well, at least we will no longer be subject to your insane hatred of our country, and your constant lies and paranoia. Abortion is legal, by the way, not murder, and your masters have done nothing about it. They laugh at you behind your back, as they send your children off to die, and steal your retirement money. YUou’re already in hell.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:54 pmI wish she’d get that worked up about protecting the Constitution.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:56 pmLAFH, you are laughable, in a nutty sort of way.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pmDaryll’s cousin, perhaps?
I doubt it’s Jason. He likes to see his name in print too much to use another screen name. I’d guess Mr.P.
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian — January 24, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
I think LiberalsAreFilledwithHate is the same person who trolled here under various “sweet” monikers like “Liberals Heart Terrorists” and his/her one honest one, “I Hate Liberals.” He/she never replied after I addressed him/her as “Neocons Fart Terrorists.”
January 24th, 2008 at 5:43 pmAnyway, I just love the way this troll always comes here to spread his/her love. (sarcasm off)
She will burn in hell and most of you will be with her.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate
Actually, you are the one who will burn in hell. And you chose a perfect moniker, seeing as how you are so filled with hate. You really don’t understand irony, do you.
January 24th, 2008 at 6:11 pmwho ever the hate filled trooll is,
i STILL cannot understand repeating such foul words…
it’s bad enough the first time…
get creative… stop repeating the hateful lies…
that’s like free airtime…
January 24th, 2008 at 6:33 pmc’mon…
She just
January 25th, 2008 at 12:46 am
Rat Pelosi should look at this Senator as guidance! Instead siding with the War Criminals…
January 25th, 2008 at 12:48 am