The Captiol Pressroom Program for August 12, 2010
Welcome to the Capitol Pressroom for Thursday August 12. I’m Susan Arbetter along with my new producer Jennifer Kelley. Today we talk with the Syracuse school Superintendent about how the federal education aid money will be spent in Syracuse – plus Bob Lowry of the Council of School Superintendents reminds the legislature that without their green light, the money won’t get to where it’s needed on time. Jen, what else is coming up?
The director of EPA’s Region 2 didn’t have anything to do today since the big hydrofracking meeting was cancelled, so she’ll be joining us to discuss her role in regulating the issue. And Ken Lovett returns from the New York Daily News. He will discuss the possibility of actual functioning approved legitimate VLTs at Aqueduct.
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4 Comments
Decades of antigovernment diatribe and deception, spewing from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and members of the self-interested political class, have brought us to the dark place the country now finds itself in. Susan Arbetter revels in her intimate association with the parasitic Albany operatives who populate her radio show – people who are often paid by the taxpayers but who generally represent mostly themselves or other self-interested individuals or groups. These same people have been misleading the public for decades, while at the same time helping to steer the ship of state into the rocks.
Today, Susan’s radio show highlighted two growth industries in New York State: natural gas extraction and gambling. (What forward-thinking state wouldn’t want to pin its economic strategy on maximizing these two desirable, cutting edge pursuits?) A taxpayer-supported administrator from the EPA assured us that the EPA would do its darndest to protect the people of NYS from any hydrofracking mischief. Not to worry, they are in control. My question is: Who controls the EPA?
Can anyone argue that the EPA has not been debilitated by political meddling, especially during the previous 8 years before Obama? A 2008 survey of EPA scientists conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists revealed that more than half of them reported instances of political interference in the performance of their work. The EPA is a politicized agency. The politics and the money favor the natural gas industry. So, should we trust the EPA – a constrained and conflicted government agency – with the health of our communities and environment? I say no way. Especially regarding hydrofracking, the deck is already stacked against the public interest.
The rescheduled public hearing on hydrofracking – wherever and whenever it may be – should focus on more than just the issues surrounding natural gas drilling. It should also be a referendum on the future course of the EPA – an agency that I feel no longer effectively serves its intended purpose.
again – the L.Stein that commented on this issue is in no way affiliated with LJ Stein & Company.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jon Campbell, Jon Campbell. Jon Campbell said: Missed this last week: EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck appeared on @thecapitolpressroom. Audio here: http://bit.ly/cg91Z8 [...]
[...] last week Syracuse superintendent Dan Lowengard and I discussed the initiative on the statewide Capitol Pressroom radio [...]