Government

EPA Head Lisa Jackson: EPA Has Never Been Blamed for Loss of Jobs

If there is one indisputable and troubling fact to be gleaned from the Obama administration, it is that their idea of reasonable regulation extends far beyond what most people consider even sensible. The administration has been accused, with some justice, of trying to price oil, coal and now natural gas out of existence, a stance that has cost them inordinate amounts of support in energy producing states such as West Virginia, and which has cost thousands of blue collar workers their jobs. In fact, even high ranking officials within the EPA admit that driving entire industries out of business in those very states is their goal to begin with.

But perhaps most infuriatingly of all, even in the face of all this evidence, the Obama administration has retained an absurdly oblivious stance on its behavior. “What do you mean, we’re hurting people,” their response usually goes, “don’t you want us to have clean air and water? Think of the children!”

And today, this condescending refusal to acknowledge that their agenda could hurt people has reached its peak. In an interview with Roland Martin on TV One’s “Washington Watch,” the head of the EPA herself, Lisa Jackson, made the jaw-dropping claim that the EPA has never been blamed for a loss of jobs. Video and transcript, courtesy of the Washington Free Beacon, are below:

ROLAND MARTIN: Some people will say that by pushing these various rules that it’s impacting jobs–that it’s taking jobs away. I always say that that becomes the Kryptonite for any conversation–that the moment you say, “Jobs will be lost,” people go, “Oh, no, then we can’t do it.” So how do you respond whenever that’s always the answer given, that measures EPA’s taking that’s taking away thousands and millions of jobs? I see the coal commercials on these Sunday morning news shows targeting the EPA.

LISA JACKSON: Well, they’re going after EPA but the facts don’t bear out the claims they’re making. First off, the EPA’s been around for 40 years. There hasn’t been one economic downturn or loss of jobs that’s ever, in this country, been blamed on the fact that we insist you don’t pollute our air, or that you don’t pollute our water–the fact that we have strong environmental laws and an EPA. So that’s number one, the facts aren’t there. Number two, we’re very mindful–because the president has asked us to be–that this nation is trying to grow jobs in this economy. One of the ways we believe you do that is set standards that are actually job creating. Our mercury and air-toxic standards create 41,000 short-term construction jobs–net positive for jobs–create thousands of longer-term jobs. What we’re doing is investing in our energy infrastructure here– removing arsenic, removing mercury, removing cadmium, removing lead–and at the same time, creating jobs. That’s actually how the environmental movement has developed, and there are millions of Americans who work in fields that are related to cleaner air and cleaner water.

The emphasis above has been added.

Now, let‘s parse what Jackson says in this rather extraordinary response to Martin’s question. First of all, note her wording – the EPA has never been blamed for an economic downturn. Not that the EPA has never caused one, just that they’ve never been blamed for one. This is rather like saying that because OJ Simpson wasn’t convicted of killing his wife, he not only must have been innocent, but because he was never convicted of a crime, we can’t ever suspect him of one in the future. Besides which, no one is accusing the EPA of causing the current economic crisis, merely of prolonging it. To that, Jackson has no response.

Secondly, and this is a more wonky issue, but one that needs to be mentioned nonetheless – even Jackson’s example of a “job creating rule” is a bald-faced mistruth. Her mention of mercury standards, specifically, could jeopardize thousands of jobs. How do we know? Because even the labor unions said so:

Several unions with strong influence in swing states are pushing for U.S. EPA to soften new regulations aimed at pollution associated with coal-fired power plants. They say roughly half a dozen rules that are expected to come out within the next two years could jeopardize thousands of jobs.

“If the EPA issues regulations that cost jobs in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Republicans will blast the president with it over and over,” said Stewart Acuff, chief of staff to the president of the Utility Workers Union of America. “Not just the president. Every Democratic [lawmaker] from those states.”

The Obama EPA has long been a target of many U.S. companies, from coal and oil firms to manufacturers. They say a new regulation targeting mercury and other toxic pollutants, slated to be proposed this week, could mean higher electric bills, billions of dollars in new costs and the shuttering of plants that employ thousands of workers.

So both Ms. Jackson’s counter-arguments appear to have fallen flat. What a surprise. Still, it’s courageous of her to come out and state her piece, and probably productive for the public conversation. Solar power might still be an overpriced pipe dream, but sunlight is still the best disinfectant.

Comments (93)

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  • brntout
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:43pm

    what planet is it from,?

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:29pm

      Uranus… of course!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Unix
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:42pm

      I am sorry that the EPA is the butt of a jackass, they make me ill…

      Report Post » Unix  
    • Texas Chris
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 8:01am

      I work at a refinery in S.E Texas. The EPA charges that refinery $10,000 per day for the emissions tests the EPA does to make sure the refinery is in compliance with EPA regulation, rules NOT passed or even approved by congress.

      How many jobs could have been created with that $10,000 PER DAY?

      Three of the biggest refineries in the US are here, and they all pay the fee. So no, I’m not buying the “EPA doesn’t cost jobs” line, thank you very much.

      Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 9:35am

      Can you say liar, can you use it in a sentence with her name.

      Report Post »  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 12:11pm

      Perhaps parsing words. No agency has EVER PREVENTED more jobs.

      Report Post » dmerwin  
    • DisgruntledInClinton
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 2:24pm

      Wrong. I lost a job because the EPA dragged their feet for years. We had an additive you could put in your water source and it would rid it of e.coli. Our armed forces used it in many countries, but the EPA would approve it for public sale for so long, we eventually went out of business.

      And, when we would call the EPA for progress reports, they were snarky and acted like WE were taking up THEIR time! Typical government employees.

      Report Post »  
  • FaithfulFriend
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:15pm

    Hey LJ, you’re such an EPAss just like all the rest.

    Report Post » FaithfulFriend  
  • nighttrainno9
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 10:01pm

    And another thing Lisa Jackson, The EPA does not produce one
    productive job. Does anyone in the govt. know the difference between
    a productive job and a non-productive job?? A productive job
    produces a product that sells for real money. A non-productive job
    produces nothing and is in fact a parasite. All govt. workers are in
    fact parasites, they don’t produce a thing, they do, in fact, inhibit
    production. At one time 50% of our workforce was productive, now
    less than 14% is productive, is it any wonder the USA is going down
    the tubes economicaly

    Report Post »  
    • UTANGCop
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 12:39am

      Excuse me, but my wife has a government job and works very hard. She runs quality control on the drinking water produced for the area. Without her, and many others like her, you would be drinking tainted water.

      Yes, I agree that many government workers are unproductive, but don’t generalize them all.

      Report Post »  
    • BubbaSC
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 2:06am

      @UTANGCop “Excuse me, but my wife has a government job and works very hard”
      Yep all government worker say the same thing! Live within a water/sewer district and you have to connect, at an outrageous cost, and you can’t opt out! Of course you are funny cause you want to be likes you added “Yes, I agree that many government workers are unproductive, but don’t generalize them all.” Everyone else is but my WIFE! Well I can, cause the county I live in there are only government job, Federal, State, City and local 30+ gov jobs for every ONE REAL JOB!

      Report Post » BubbaSC  
    • Texas Chris
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 8:04am

      Without her my water would be tainted?
      Without the government we wouldn’t have roads!
      Without the government we wouldn’t have clean air!
      Without the government our food would be poisoned!

      Right. Because people are stupid, and companies are evil.
      /sarc off

      Report Post »  
  • macpappy
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:58pm

    You can dress them up, send them to school, treat them as normal, but liberal stupid is deep to the bone.

    Report Post » macpappy  
  • kiwi1
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:51pm

    Just another arm of this Communist Administration. She’s a Commie!

    Report Post »  
  • SPOT_OF_TEA
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:46pm

    Let me be the first to blame the EPA for loss of jobs…..That along with free trade agreements with slave labor countries….How could we have been so stupid to allow our government to let that happen.

    Report Post » SPOT_OF_TEA  
  • nighttrainno9
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:39pm

    These people from the EPA, they live under a rock, or what??
    The EPA has single handedly chased more than half the manufacturing
    out of the country. Because my business deals with helping companies
    comply with OSHA and the EPA, I am very familiar with what the
    cost of complying is. Back in the days when clean air and water was
    a problem some of this made sense, hoever compared with 1960,
    our water and air today are pristine. But the liberals keep on pushing
    and pretty soon they are going to find themselves back in the stone
    age, without electricity, heat or refrigeration. I know thats what the
    govt. wants, just sheeple and slaves.

    Report Post »  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:47pm

      Im ready to grab a pitchfork!!

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • cuzifit
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 3:58am

      I HAD, a machine shop for almost 40 years, employed around 35 – 50 people, depending on the economy. I shut it down, couldn’t keep up with the cost of regulations. Example: we used synthetic cutting oil in the CNC machines, the raw synthetic oil was bio-degradeable, non toxic, and proportion mixed 20:1 (1 gal oil concentrate / 20 gal water), total cost around $0.35 / gal. As soon as we added the water, it became “Hazardous Waste” !!! Cost to process it as Hazardous Waste $10 per gallon. Total processing cost per year around $55,000 -$70,000 “FOR WATER”.

      Report Post » cuzifit  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:39pm

    The entire government is taking people’s jobs, running companies overseas to business friendly nations, shipping in third world turds to pick up what’s left here, not guarding our borders, suing states, getting everyone addicted to welfare…….printing monopoly mońey, bankrupting our children and grandchildren………ruining education, making twice as much money as the private sector…”.etc etc etc…..

    Report Post »  
    • SPOT_OF_TEA
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:59pm

      America has been put in decline a number of years ago in order to balance the world’s economy….We only figured it out a couple of years ago…we loved the cheap goods to go along with our high paying jobs….now our high paying jobs are gone we wont even be able to afford the cheap goods soon….Soon the goods wont even be shipped to America anymore….I encourage everyone to read Peter Schiff’s book …How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes…that explains everything…I think I got the books name right.

      Report Post » SPOT_OF_TEA  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:34pm

    Do these people think any Government regulatory agency does ANYTHING but cost jobs??? Are they insane?

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • ktmrider1
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:33pm

    left wing loons live in there own little fantasy world just one more reason to flush the obummer administration down the drain this november

    Report Post » ktmrider1  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:31pm

    A list of EPA , IRS ETC. And all Government trolls should be published quarterly Names & addresses .

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • Constructionist
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:27pm

    Here at the EPA, we‘re not in the business of taking people’s jobs…

    We‘re in the business of seizing people’s property.

    Report Post » Constructionist  
    • v15
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:36pm

      seizing property / kinetic re-possessive action. same difference

      Report Post » v15  
  • v15
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:26pm

    Wow, so excessive government regulation, with the blessing of the EPA, never taxes and regulates companies out of business nor slaps corporations with hefty fines! It makes so much sense now!! And all of this time I thought that the EPA was out of control!

    Report Post » v15  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:29pm

      Just another LIBERAL LIAR. IS SHE FRIED???? I can’t stand much more of their blatant lies…I’ll just ask them…

      WHATCHA
      GONNA
      DO
      WHEN THE GOOSE
      THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG
      IS TOTALLY KILLED OFF
      BY GOONS LIKE YOU ???

      HUH?

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:25pm

    But has it ever been credited for job creation? Wait, they did create a bunch of lawsuits and clean up companies. And corn farmers love them.

    Yes Virginia, there is an EPA, it’s in all of us, and just like any STD, will soon make our nuts fall off and bring us to our knees. Just where the dems want us, just ask Monica Lewinsky.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • momrules
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:25pm

    I just ran a cursory search of jobs lost because of EPA regulations. Do it yourself and see the results.

    Jackson is a flat out liar. She may try to get around her lie by saying *blamed* but she is still a flat out liar of the worst sort.

    An ignorant, poewerful woman running the single most abusive arm of government. Her agency is even more destructive than the TSA and the IRS.

    Report Post »  
    • henryKnox
      Posted on July 2, 2012 at 11:42pm

      I think they actually belileve their lies. They are delusional and it is so frustrating to watch. How can so many people be so wrong, so hateful and so inaccurate? Could they be victims of an out of control educational system?

      Report Post » henryKnox  
  • Xavier_Holden
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:23pm

    I HEREBY BLAME the EPA for loss of jobs…

    There, does THAT make it official?

    Report Post »  
  • brickmoon
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:22pm

    To be fair, the ancient Romans were probably very popular with the crucifix nail manufacturers.

    Report Post » brickmoon  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:21pm

    Now if I were advising President Romney, I would have him not fire anyone from the EPA. No, instead I would have the Republican Congress (both houses) de-fund the EPA to ZERO money, and sign the bill the same day. You EPA Nazis can keep your jobs if you don’t mind working in buildings with no electricity, water, or toilet paper, oh and one more thing, no pay checks. So … no JOBS would be loss at the EPA, only the taxpayers MONEY to pay you Nazi psychos.

    Report Post »  
  • TheImirOfGroofunkistan
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:20pm

    hey Blaze (marketing/website people), please STOP trying to get me to sign up for the newsletter. Every time I come to this website I have to dismiss the silly dialog that wants me to sign up for email. I read your website through RSS already, I don’t want more email. Please program your site to remember my reply or I’ll eventually stop coming here at all.

    Report Post » TheImirOfGroofunkistan  
  • aChameleon
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:20pm

    They always just blame Bush or “economic headwinds” for everything.

    Report Post » aChameleon  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:20pm

    Nice to see the epic insanity of Obama has extended to all of his administration; may we crush them this November and get the nation peaceably back into our hands.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • henryKnox
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 12:13am

      It seems that everytime I am introduced to another of the Obama appointees I feel like I need a shower. This is the sleeziest administration in history.

      Report Post » henryKnox  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:15pm

    as soon as Presidemnt Romney is inaugurated, he should defund and disband the antiAmerican unAmerican communist oppressors: the EPA. period.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:07pm

    “EPA Has Never Been Blamed for Loss of Jobs…”

    Well let me be the first Lisa; Jobs have been lost because of the EPA.

    PS: Don’t exhale your poisonous CO2 and have your resume updated by Jan 2013.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • BeingThere
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:02pm

    The EPA is unconstitutional, shut it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » BeingThere  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on July 2, 2012 at 9:02pm

    EPA HEAD LISA JACKSON: no democrat HAS ever BEEN accused of speaking the truth.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • phillybass1
      Posted on July 3, 2012 at 1:51pm

      So true, how do public officials like Jackson get away with telling the American people lie after outright lie.

      Report Post » phillybass1  
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