EPA’s Johnson claims ‘ongoing back issues’ prevent him from testifying before Congress.
By on May 7th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
EPA’s Johnson claims ‘ongoing back issues’ prevent him from testifying before Congress.
Last month, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson was unable to testify before Congress because he went on a trip to Australia. Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-CA) Oversight and Government Reform Committee had scheduled a hearing for tomorrow with Johnson to testify on White House interference with ozone standards. Today, Washington Post’s Al Kamen reports that the hearing has been postponed because Johnson refused to appear:
EPA officials say Johnson had a “recurrence of ongoing back issues stemming from a car accident years ago.”
The Wonk Room has a chart of the many ongoing scandals Johnson should be ready to address before Congress once he recovers.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
33 Responses to “EPA’s Johnson claims ‘ongoing back issues’ prevent him from testifying before Congress.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Bachmann
Boehner
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
DADT
Economy
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Guantanamo
Hannity
Health Care
International Relations
Iran
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Limbaugh
Liz Cheney
McCain
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Rove
Sanford
Sotomayor
Steele
Supreme Court
Terrorism
ThinkProgress
Tiller
Torture
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Oh! That poor, poor man.
NOT.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pmEPA officials say Johnson had a “recurrence of ongoing back issues stemming from a car accident years ago.”
Can someone tell me, if this gentleman has "back issues" that prevent him testifying before Congress, how he does his job?
May 7th, 2008 at 12:36 pmLoan him an HD camera and broadband connection at home.
Then he can testify in his Mickey Mouse pajamas.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:36 pmEPA officials say Johnson had a “recurrence of ongoing back issues stemming from a car accident years ago.”
Has stepford bimbo Laura Bush been driving again?
May 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pmFittingly, this administration staggers from the world stage into the dustbin of history defiantly giving the finger to the democratic process -- just like the sociopathic figurehead at its center.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pmI've had TWO back surgeries, have six titanium screws and 12 rods holding my lumbar together, and have been diagnosed as having degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and advanced arthritis.
Yet I manage to spend 7 - 9 hours a day sitting at work. And if I can do that for my relatively insignificant job, I fail to see how this putz can use his simple widdle owie as an excuse.
Suck it up, take a few pain killers, and get your ass in front of Congress, ya wimp.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pmJohnson says he has a weak back. Mr. Johnson, how long have you had that problem: "Oh, about a week back."
May 7th, 2008 at 12:44 pmFine. Put the guy in traction and roll him in there.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pmSo, his ongoing back issues stemming from a car accident years ago didn't affect his trip to Australia, which entails sitting in an airplane for hours upon hours?
May 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pmHuh?
I'm sure his back was just fine when he was snorkeling and beaching it in the land of Fosters.
The lower back is very close to one's a$$. Therefore, if Johnson's back is truly messed up, that could be affecting his brains.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Fine. Put the guy in traction and roll him in there.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I hope I'm not the only one that pictured Johnson being wheeled into the committee room wearing a hockey mask and strapped to a hand truck, a la Hannibal Lechter.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:50 pmI pictured the same thing Hussein Toasterhead. LMAO. That would be a hoot.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:52 pmMiss Molly, you crack me up. :D
May 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pmHT -- Exactly!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
The lower back is very close to one’s a$$. Therefore, if Johnson’s back is truly messed up, that could be affecting his brains.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I nominate this post for the Snark of the Day award.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pmNot only is he a crook he is a PUSSY to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
misshusseinmolly Says:
The lower back is very close to one’s a$$. Therefore, if Johnson’s back is truly messed up, that could be affecting his brains.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I nominate this post for the Snark of the Day award.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I second the nomination.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:56 pmOngoing back issues???
It's an epidemic!
The media has ongoing back issues as well, it's called Lack of a Spine.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:58 pmchristopher wiwi Says:
Not only is he a crook he is a PUSSY to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I'd disagree with that assessment. If he can't testify before Congress because of a little back pain, he's certainly not capable of pushing a nine-pound fetus into the world.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pmThe next scheduled day for his testimony, his ingrown fingernail will flare up.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pmWhy does he get to continue to be a pain in the a** and pain in the neck for the U.S. because he's got a pain in the back?
May 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pmI've heard that strapping federal officials to a water board makes them forget all about their back pain.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:09 pmTP,
May 7th, 2008 at 1:09 pmMy post is awaiting for moderation because....????
One can say pu$$y, and it posts fine, yet I debunk anylouse19's post regarding Doan's not working, and it "awaits moderation"???
Was it because I used the correct terminology for "pain relief", @nalgesic, which first four letters happen to spell @nal???
.
Not today, Honey. I have a headache...
.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:12 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
The lower back is very close to one’s a$$. Therefore, if Johnson’s back is truly messed up, that could be affecting his brains.
hussein toasterhead Says
May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I nominate this post for the Snark of the Day award.
Zooey Says
May 7th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I second the nomination.
_______________________________________
ooooo --- thank you! (beaming from ear to ear). Do I get a prize? I always wanted my very own Whack-a-Troll game...
May 7th, 2008 at 1:18 pmHow can one have back pain when one has no spine?
May 7th, 2008 at 1:28 pmHis back problem is nothing more than a yellow streak about a foot wide from his neck to his ass.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:28 pmWheel him on on a gurney!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:30 pmDRxJ,
Yep, you know why your being moderated. I responded to you with a test as follows (without the * substitutions) and got moderated:
Your post is being *n*l-yzed.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:36 pmPLC,
May 7th, 2008 at 1:51 pmWell, that's just great. How will Daryll of Parodyll ever get to post again???
The CIA probably has a rack he can use to fix his back.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pmI imagine he is a Republican. Being republican I would think he isn't using that liberal FMLA.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:23 amMore than the water that's not right around here.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:52 am