Speaker Pelosi on California's Lawsuit Against the EPA

Frank Davies, Mercury News - January 3, 2008

California on Wednesday launched a legal and scientific counterattack on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, suing in federal court in San Francisco to secure the authority to enact its own set of tough tailpipe emissions standards.

California's suit, joined by 14 other states ready to adopt the same standards, was widely expected after the EPA turned down the state's request for a rule waiver to enact the emission cuts, and may turn the legal showdown with the Bush administration into a national battle over how to deal with global warming.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded yesterday:

"In conjunction with ongoing Congressional oversight into this matter, today's announcement by Attorney General Mukasey that the Justice Department will launch a criminal investigation to be headed by a career prosecutor is a reflection of the seriousness of these charges.

"The Bush Administration now has the burden of proving the investigation is truly independent and has appropriate reporting provisions and sufficient scope to uncover the truth."