# Republicans want to eliminate the EPA **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 16, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976 "2017-02-16T14:23:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/1 "2017-02-16T14:23:23Z")
Already legislation has been passed that allows streams around coal minds to be destroyed. ['The Environmental Protection Agency shall terminate on December 31, 2018.’](http://usuncut.com/climate/epa-terminate/) [The Bill](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/861) > [@](#): > > House Republicans just introduced a bill that would terminate the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of next year, full stop. > > H.R. 861, which was introduced on February 3 by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) and cosponsored by Reps. Steven Palazzo (R-Mississippi), Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), and Barry Loudermilk (R-Georgia) only contains one sentence: “The Environmental Protection Agency shall terminate on December 31, 2018.” The bill is currently awaiting action in the House Science, Space, and Technology committee. The same science committee with all the GOP science haters on it. I hope they all enjoy drinking, eating and breathing their lobbyist provided dollar bills. I rather liked the idea of an agency that spoke for the trees, streams and my lungs. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/2 "2017-02-16T14:25:42Z")
Well there goes some good american jobs. But it’s needed for us to become a third world country. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/3 "2017-02-16T14:35:24Z")
And they already have 3 co-sponsors. This bill is all but passed… Sounds like a few Congresscritters want to brag to their constituents that they drafted a bill to eliminate the EPA. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/4 "2017-02-16T14:36:06Z")
For some reason, this pisses me off more than anything else that has happened so far since the election. The EPA has done more good during its existence than any government agency I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/5 "2017-02-16T14:50:34Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > For some reason, this pisses me off more than anything else that has happened so far since the election. The EPA has done more good during its existence than any government agency I can think of. I’m reasonably partial to the FDA. As I understand it, it serves not just us but most of the world as well. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/6 "2017-02-16T14:56:04Z")
Interesting to me factoid: Trump’s Supreme Court nominee’s mother was head of the EPA under Reagan. > [@](#): > > Gorsuch based her administration of the EPA on the New Federalism approach of downsizing federal agencies by delegating their functions and services to the individual states.[6] She believed that the EPA was over-regulating business and that the agency was too large and not cost-effective. During her 22 months as agency head, she cut the budget of the EPA by 22%, reduced the number of cases filed against polluters, relaxed Clean Air Act regulations, and facilitated the spraying of restricted-use pesticides > **[Anne Gorsuch Burford](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Gorsuch_Burford)** > > Anne Irene McGill Gorsuch Burford (/ˈɡɔːrsʌtʃ/ GOR-sutch; April 21, 1942 – July 18, 2004), also known as Anne M. Gorsuch, was an American attorney and politician. Between 1981 and 1983, while known as Anne M. Gorsuch, she served under President Ronald Reagan as the first female Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Her son is sitting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Neil Gorsuch. > Born Anne Irene McGill in Casper, Wyoming, Gorsuch grew up in Denver... ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/7 "2017-02-16T15:00:56Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Interesting to me factoid: Trump’s Supreme Court nominee’s mother was head of the EPA under Reagan. > > [Anne Gorsuch Burford - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Gorsuch_Burford) Stupid bitch. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/8 "2017-02-16T15:03:52Z")
I remember on NPR there was a report on a well to do or middle class Chinese family that came to live in America. One big reason why that well to do Chinese family came to America? Because in their native city the pollution is so bad that it is now a danger to the family and they do appreciate how good the environment is in the USA. Really, the only reason why Republicans would fall for the sick propaganda of the polluters is a grossly misguided idea that jobs will be protected, in the short range and for the fossil fuel industry it can be; but overall, many other jobs that depend on having cleaner water, air and food that give us a sustainable economy will be negatively affected. And this is also why I mentioned that well to do Chinese family, because with them also came money and new businesses and jobs to America. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/9 "2017-02-16T15:11:23Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Interesting to me factoid: Trump’s Supreme Court nominee’s mother was head of the EPA under Reagan. > > [Anne Gorsuch Burford - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Gorsuch_Burford) Even more interesting: > **[Presidents Before Trump Have Meddled With The EPA — It Didn’t Go Well](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/presidents-before-trump-have-meddled-with-the-epa-it-didnt-go-well/)** > > A new president, a new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and a scandal over frozen environmental regulations — it happened in March of 2001,… > [@](#): > > That same kind of pushback by the public and political opponents is also evident in other big moment in EPA history when the agency was at odds with its own leadership. President Ronald Reagan’s first EPA administrator, Anne Gorsuch (later Anne Burford) was involved in a plan to eliminate or reduce restrictions on lead in gasoline, going so far as to tell one refiner that the existing regulations would not be enforced. **The backlash against this was so big that it ended up laying the groundwork for the phasing out of lead from gas entirely** , Percival said.\*\* Gorsuch was forced to resign just 22 months into her tenure after a series of scandals\*\*.1 ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/10 "2017-02-16T15:25:55Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > For some reason, this pisses me off more than anything else that has happened so far since the election. The EPA has done more good during its existence than any government agency I can think of. Yeah, me too! I really detest these people, so very much… ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/11 "2017-02-16T15:48:15Z")
ISTM that for those who prioritize profits and mythical “jobs” above the environment, etc. suffer from the sense that they personally will not be impacted in a negative way by the policy. Because they don’t personally live where a river might be polluted, or air might be poisoned. They, instead, live in “nice” areas where there are no factories or coal mines or oil refineries near by. Out of sight - out of mind (and consequently, out of their minds). And yes, I understand the fundamental notion of “too much” regulation, but I would suggest there can also be “too little” regulation. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/12 "2017-02-16T15:58:49Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Really, the only reason why Republicans would fall for the sick propaganda of the polluters is a grossly misguided idea that jobs will be protected, in the short range and for the fossil fuel industry it can be; but overall, many other jobs that depend on having cleaner water, air and food that give us a sustainable economy will be negatively affected. No, a major reason is the desire to stick it to the namby-mamby sissy environmentalists. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/13 "2017-02-16T16:00:47Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Well there goes some good american jobs. But it’s needed for us to become a third world country. I am but a tiny bearing within one small cog of the machine, but eliminating the EPA would mean that everyone I work with would lose our jobs. We are dependent on these regulations to create demand for the products we produce. I could list probably 100x small businesses that would be out-of-business without the EPA. And that’s just in the air-emissions sector. Again, the legislature is talking out of both sides of their mouths. Eliminating the EPA would kill many jobs in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/14 "2017-02-16T16:05:45Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > For some reason, this pisses me off more than anything else that has happened so far since the election. The EPA has done more good during its existence than any government agency I can think of. Q: Where do those Mirror-Largo Assholes think their air will come from? Nebulizers and plastic face masks??? Killing the EPA is some QUALITY Dumb-Assery… ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/15 "2017-02-16T16:11:24Z")
Moved from Great Debates to the Pit. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/16 "2017-02-16T16:17:15Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#): > > I am but a tiny bearing within one small cog of the machine, but eliminating the EPA would mean that everyone I work with would lose our jobs. We are dependent on these regulations to create demand for the products we produce. I could list probably 100x small businesses that would be out-of-business without the EPA. And that’s just in the air-emissions sector. > > Again, the legislature is talking out of both sides of their mouths. Eliminating the EPA would kill many jobs in the country. And one big item that the media virtually forgot to point out when Trump “saved” those new car jobs. Almost all those new cars are hybrids or next generation electrical ones. Even those jobs that those new cars are bringing are likely to be lost if regulations are dropped because the regulation and the new ones that are in limbo regarding CO2 emissions were an important reason why Ford/Fiat, Chrysler and others are making the switch to Hybrids and electric cars. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/17 "2017-02-16T16:18:42Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > No, a major reason is the desire to stick it to the namby-mamby sissy environmentalists. So, not any attempt at all of acting like adults running the country, just running it into the ground out of spite. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/18 "2017-02-16T16:19:29Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > No, a major reason is the desire to stick it to the namby-mamby sissy environmentalists. That was the plausible reason, that there are also idiotic reasons was a given. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/19 "2017-02-16T16:27:35Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > No, a major reason is the desire to stick it to the namby-mamby sissy environmentalists. That’s gravy. The chance of making enormous profits in a very short time, combining a lack of environmental regulation and modern mining/extraction techniques, would make Croesus swoon. Of course, modern techniques use about 1/10 the manpower of what was used back in the glory days, so I feel sorry for all the excited coal country folks lining up for nonexistent jobs while chanting Trump! Trump! Trump!.. And too, too bad for the complete, Industrial-Revolution shitholes their home regions will be in a few years. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976/20 "2017-02-16T16:45:33Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I remember on NPR there was a report on a well to do or middle class Chinese family that came to live in America. One big reason why that well to do Chinese family came to America? Because in their native city the pollution is so bad that it is now a danger to the family and they do appreciate how good the environment is in the USA. So eliminating the EPA will help with the immigrant issue as well. Two birds with one stone. 😃 > [@GIGObuster](#): > > Really, the only reason why Republicans would fall for the sick propaganda of the polluters is a grossly misguided idea that jobs will be protected, in the short range and for the fossil fuel industry it can be; but overall, many other jobs that depend on having cleaner water, air and food that give us a sustainable economy will be negatively affected. Also this fails to take account of the following. > [@](#): > > **Godot’s first law of Republican rhetoric translation:** > > In order to make sense of Republican rhetoric, replace all instances of the word “jobs” with the words “profits for wealthy donors” So “eliminating the EPA will help create jobs” should be understood to mean “eliminating the EPA will help create profits for wealthy donors” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-want-to-eliminate-the-epa/779976.md?page=2)