BROWN: This is a story about your government at work or not. Last year, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction over greenhouse gases. That's the stuff that comes out of our car's tailpipe. As a result, the EPA was supposed to issue a report if the agency decided not to use its power to regulate those gases. So what happened to that report? Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to thoroughly investigate the question about pollution and greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. Do they threaten the environment and our health? And, if so, what should we do about it? EPA's answers were yes, they are a threat and, yes, there's a lot we could do. In fact, Congress only recently discovered the EPA's report, which was ready seven months ago, never came out. Today's "New York Times" says the folks at the White House had a good excuse. Ignorance. White House officials could say they did not know what was in the EPA report because it came to them in an e-mail and they consciously decided not to open it. So what was in it? Based on what the select committee on energy independence and global warming has learned, only that the EPA was going to declare that greenhouse gases from cars and trucks pose a compelling and robust threat, that the EPA is required by law to take actions, like making cars get 35 or, better yet, 43 miles a gallon by 2018, and that it could save us consumers at least $55 billion. By the way, that's based on gas costing $2 a gallon in 2018. You're right. Anyhow, last March, the EPA testified no action is needed. Makes you wonder, did the White House lean on anyone? So when asked about the unopened e-mail story, today a White House spokesperson said there would be no comment because it involves interagency discussions and rulemaking. He represents cowboy country on Capitol Hill, and that means he has to have the right image. A senator from Texas and his hard-riding campaign video that has everybody talking. That's coming up next.
Is EPA Report on Greenhouse Gases Being Ignored by the White House?