The Donald's EPA lies about 'no data' on WOTUS rule

As if we needed more proof this administration cares nothing for the environment or public health, the TEPA stated yesterday that it doesn’t know how many streams will be excluded from the Clean Water Act and the chief of TEPA’s Office of Water Dave Ross stated no one has that data.

Reporters from E&E News, Ariel Wittenberg and Kevin Bogardus obtained evidence from a slideshow from 2017 that contains the data and even further, it demonstrates that at least 18% of streams and 51% of wetlands would not be protected under TEPA’s new definition of WOTUS (Waters of the United States).  The slides were prepared from data supplied by the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Hydrography Dataset (NHD).

Later E&E News asked TEPA Molly Block why they didn’t use the USGS data as the EPA did under Shrub’s administration in 2005.  Unsurprisingly, Block defended Ross’ statement, saying the EPA and the Army Corps had determined the datasets are “not robust enough” to depict federally regulated waters.

In Trumpspeak, that means 'we don’t like what the data is showing so we choose to ignore it.'

This comes on the heels of Andrew Wheeler’s inability to come up with three programs the TEPA has to protect the Clean Air Act.  There simply are few, if at all, that exist.

We are so screwed.

The environment is still screwed: Incoming TEPA Admin Wheeler will be just as bad as Pruitt

The Washington Post interviewed Andrew Wheeler, set to become the TEPA's administrator now that Pollutin' Pruitt is gone.  But are we better off now?

In the interview, Wheeler:

1. thanks Pruitt for his service (not a good thing),
2. will work to implement The Donald’s agenda (a very bad thing), 
3. says he was an aide to Jim Inhofe (may God help us all),
4. had the longest confirmation process for EPA deputy admin,
5. promises transparency (sound familiar?),
6. does not consider himself a scientist (being put in charge of a science-based organization),
7. claims the Science Advisory Board was “reconfigured”, not decimated,
8. says the Clean Power Plan was outside the “four corners” of the Clean Air Act,
9. was an industrial lobbyist

I'm not feeling it.  The environment is still screwed.  But we will continue to fight. 

Read WaPo's article here:

Greed and lies. Now Pruitt adds hate to the EPA's agenda.

From the beginning, everyone knew, and yet nobody was denying it, Scott Pruitt was the absolute worst choice to become Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.  Mainly, it is his track record as Attorney General of Oklahoma that made him uniquely unqualified to sit in that seat:  He sued the EPA several times, seeking regulatory freedom for the oil and gas industries.  Pruitt opposed anything, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Power Act, anything that would allow the oil and gas industries, which donated heavily to his campaign to become their lawyer, free reign to pollute our atmosphere, water and soil. 

His greed has been apparent for a long time, and still, he does nothing to deny it. 

Now he has added another evil, hate, to his greed and lies. 

Last week, twenty eight senators, including Ben Cardin and Chris VanHollen of Maryland, sent a letter to Pruitt urging him not to roll back restrictions on the use of dangerous pesticides by young workers, i.e. youngsters under the age of 18.  According to the Huffington Post, the American Farm Bureau lobbied the TEPA after the EPA under Obama finalized these rules.  They argued that the regulations were too tight, probably because minors tend to work cheaper than adults.  Since immediate family members are exempted from those rules, it is likely the opponents to these rules are wanting to hire young workers who might be migrants who speak little if any English and do not understand their rights. 

This attack on children’s health comes as no surprise for anyone watching Pruitt and the TEPA.  Back in May 2015, Pruitt delayed the ban of chlorpyrifos, an insecticide that exposure to which causes health problems in young children, especially between the ages of 2-3.  Pruitt has moved the decision on the ban back to 2022.  His excuse?  He says there “continue to be considerable areas of uncertainty” and he was “returning to sound science in decision-making rather than predetermined results”.  Pruitt does not give any clarity of what he has determined to be “sound science”.  Accusing an institution like Columbia University of falsifying data and information is just deplorable.  Sound familiar?

Apparently, Pruitt made this decision after a brief meeting with Dow Agro Sciences LLC, the manufacturer of the insecticide.  And still he claims that he doesn’t meet with polluters.  There is no basis for delaying this ban.

When it comes to the health of our children, we should always err on the side of caution and nothing is too safe for our children.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/senators-rebuke-epa-plan-to-let-kids-handle-pesticides-again_us_5aa943f5e4b0f7a689ce9b11

http://alan-scott.blogspot.com/2017/05/our-children-are-doomedpruitts-epa.html

Government scientists "leak" a climate change report before Trump can bury it

The New York Times received a draft of a report from government scientists providing data that we're feeling the effects of global warming right now.  The scientists made the draft public in fear that The Donald and his WH staff might try to bury it.

The report states:  “Evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans,”

This contradicts...nay, it PROVES that The Donald's and Pruitt's "beliefs" do not hold up in the face of cold hard facts.  The current administration has long denied that global warming and climate changes exists.

They don't have proof.  They just don't believe it.  Disputing it does not mean it is wrong, fellas!

The NYT article addresses the authors citing thousands of studies by tens of thousands of scientists have documented climate changes.  I learned of global warming and the greenhouse effect in the late 1970's.

“Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change,” the scientists wrote in their draft.

Pruitt said in March  “No, I would not agree that [carbon dioxide is] a primary contributor to the global warming that we see.”

Again, no proof, just a statement.  

The EPA and 12 other agencies have until August 18 to approve the report, but it's no small stretch of the imagination that Pruitt and The Donald will try to kill it.  Or edit it to leave out the global warming stuff.

Kinda like W. back in 2003,  when he ordered WH officials to edit a similar report by the EPA and deleted all the data on climate change.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/climate-change-report-draft-nyt_us_598907ece4b0a66b8bae1fc6?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=__TheMorningEmail__080817&utm_content=__TheMorningEmail__080817+CID_10ffcfa282b1476041611456cad67004&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=HuffPost&ncid=newsltushpmgnews__TheMorningEmail__080817
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/climate/climate-change-drastic-warming-trump.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/19/us/report-by-epa-leaves-out-data-on-climate-change.html

Newsok columnist Wingerter sucks up to Pruitt - WTF?

Justin Wingerter's post in Newsok.com today demonstrates a blind, uncompromising loyalty to Scott Pruitt, thinking that all this talk about the EPA administrator is exciting!  But even the first paragraph is enough to make someone seriously ill.  Any one with a brain, at least.  Wingerter sounds like a star-struck teenaged girl facing her teen idol.

Listen to this obsequious drivel:

"Critics and supporters of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt have found common ground in their shared belief that the former Oklahoma attorney general is operating with an efficiency and zeal beyond that of his predecessors."

I have yet to hear any of his critics use the terms 'efficiency' in describing his policies.  'Zeal' maybe, but not in a good way.  His 'zeal' is taking apart the EPA so oil and gas industries can pollute the environment with impunity.  This does not come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the process from becoming The Donald's nominee to somehow (God only knows) getting appointed.


Al Armendariz, a former regional EPA administrator stated: “I'm not aware there's ever been an environmental administrator with an agenda to roll back environmental regulations one after another.”

We've never had a pretender-in-chief so hellbent on destroying the environment.  The Donald put Pruitt there for  the sole purpose of dismantling the EPA.

Back in March, Pruitt denied a ban on chlorpyrifos, after a study from the USDA questioned EPA's methodology and mistaken conclusions that it is unsafe.  According to FactCheck.org, there are some questions about the EPA study, but claims stronger data and conclusions come from the November 2016 report from Columbia  Center for Children's Environmental Health at Columbia University.

How convenient that Wingerter's post left out the citation for the USDA's study.  FactCheck.org, on the other hand, listed 27 references, USDA not included.

It's been clear for a while that Pruitt is hostile  to the EPA while getting on his knees in the oil and gas industries, criticizing the EPA for its policies to protect our air and our water.  Pruitt is out to line  his pockets with the help of oil and gas.

“I'll do it as long as the Lord calls me to and as long as the president wants me to do it,” Pruitt said.

God help us all!

http://newsok.com/scott-pruitt-talks-epa-pesticides-and-future-elections/article/5558202
http://www.factcheck.org/2017/04/the-facts-on-chlorpyrifos/
   (and references therein).

The EPA is no more.

In a move we all saw coming, The Donald has dismissed all remaining scientists from the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy.  No surprise, since naming Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator, they've done nothing else but deny climate change and global warming, dispute valid scientific research (they don't "believe" in it) and laying off anyone with a brain.

The EPA undergoes change with each administration, but the Democratic presidents tend to put more focus and commitment to science.  During President Obama's administration, OSTP had nine scientists on staff, who dealt with policy issues such as STEM education, biotechnology and crisis response.  The OSTP had over 100 employees in all.

Earth is doomed.  Thanks, GOP.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/science-division-of-white-house-office-now-empty-as-last-staffers-depart/

Trump's EPA does not consider people, only oil and gas industries

The Donald's EPA has taken steps in the past few days to demonstrate its commitment to the oil and gas industry.  And they aren't even trying to hide it.

Monday, TEPA Admin Scott Pruitt appointed Jeff Holmstead, a lobbyist for the oil industry, as his No. 2 man.  Holmstead even testified before Congress last year:

“My biggest clients are utilities, refineries, a coal producer, and several oil and gas companies.”

Holmstead was a top EPA official during Shrub's administration and helped roll back regulations placed on the oil and gas industry to protect our clean water and clean air.  He will continue to pursue The Donald's ruinous agenda, to the detriment of Americans' health.

Tuesday, many of the scientists on advisory boards that their employment will not be renewed.  This comes after last month's dismissal of half the key scientists on 200 advisory panels, leaving the ranks of TEPA frighteningly low of scientists.  With so many seats now available, it is no stretch of the imagination to predict what is coming.  Pruitt and Holmstead, both in the pay of the oil and gas industry, will appoint like-minded people, and ignore the pollution released by these industries and its harmful effects on people.

We are doomed.

https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/pruitt-picks-polluter-lobbyist-be-his-no-2-epa?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tweet&utm_content=socialmedia

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/06/20/trump-administration-to-decline-to-renew-dozens-of-scientists-for-key-epa-advisory-board/?tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.6f68871d73c6

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/07/epa-dismisses-half-of-its-scientific-advisers-on-key-board-citing-clean-break-with-obama-administration/?utm_term=.7596a4d618a2

Rick Perry is as stupid and greedy as Scott Pruitt and The Donald

The Donald's plan to gut the EPA, and roll back any regulation that protects our clean air and clean water is well on its way.  By appointing nay-sayers to the right positions, he can eliminate any and all barriers to his own oil and gas interests.  This was made clear when he appointed Scott Pruitt, a climate change denier with absolutely no experience in science, to head the EPA.  He also appointed ex-governor of Texas Rick Perry (a Bush flunkee) as Energy Secretary.

Like Pruitt, Perry is a global-warming denier and wasted no time in proving his ineptitude and plain ol' stupidness.  He said earlier this week he does not "believe" carbon dioxide from human activities is a main contributor to climate change.  As if he hadn't emphasized his lack of education enough, he went on to blame climate change on the oceans:

According to AP reporter Matthew Daly:

Asked on CNBC's "Squawk Box" whether carbon emissions are primarily responsible for climate change, Perry said no, adding that"most likely the primary control knob is the ocean waters and this environment that we live in."

So the "good ol' boy" train rolls along.  We've known for a while that Pruitt has been on his knees among the oil and gas industries, but now we find out who's been hanging it out for him.  Or maybe Perry's on his knees, too.  Both of them have a reason to poison the environment:  to make more money!  

Just like The Donald!

Perry also said skepticism is a sign of being a "wise, intellectually engaged person."  That might be correct, Perry, but in your case, it's a sign of being a total moron.

http://newsok.com/article/feed/1275120

Trump cancels protection for endangered wildlife and national parks

In the past few days, The Donald and his administration have gone ape-shit, hell-bent on destroying our natural resources, flora and fauna.  First, The Donald and the U.S. Forest Service are considering a proposal to allow Arch Coal, the country's second largest coal producer to mine 1700 acres of teh Gunnison National Forest in Colorado, pristine wilderness, for coal!  Environmental groups are already taking action to the destruction of public lands for the oil and gas industry.

If that wasn't enough, U.S. Dept of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke took the first official step yesterday to strip Utah's Bears Ears National Monument of its federal protection.  When President Obama first made Bears Ears a national monument, Utah Republicans were furious.  Why?  Because think of all the mining and fossil fuel drilling that can be done there!  The Donald does not care about the indigenous people who consider that land sacred to their tribes.  He wants their land so he can make more money.  

Also yesterday (The Donald was a busy boy Monday!), his administration threw out a new rule in place since 2016 proposed by the Pacific Fisher Management Council that sought to limit the numbers of endangered whales and sea turtles getting caught in fishing nets off the West Coast.  The rule applied to endangered fin, humpback and sperm whales, short-fin pilots whales, bottlenose dolphins, leatherback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, olife-ridley sea turtles and green sea turtles.

Why, The Donald?  What have you against endangered species?

https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/trumps-epa-stages-sham-public-hearings-cover-roll-back-safeguards
https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/zinke-moves-shrink-and-strip-protection-bears-ears-national-monument?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tweet&utm_content=socialmedia
https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/trump-administration-gunning-gunnison-national-forest?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tweet&utm_content=socialmedia

The Donald's EPA caught illegally rescinding Mercury rule

One of The Donald's first acts after purchasing the White House in January was:

"to “immediately withdraw” final rules sent to the Office of the Federal Register but not yet published in the Federal Register."

Although not yet under Pruitt's despotism, the TEPA (Trump's EPA) rescinded the Mercury Effluent Rule, which had been finalized December 15, 2016.  The EPA is required to give public notice and an opportunity to comment, but did not.

The National Resources Defense Council acted quickly and sued the EPA for acting illegally and potentially putting millions at risk.  Mercury is a neurotoxin and dental offices are the main source of mercury discharges to municipal wastewater treatment plants, since excess amalgam from new cavitgy fillings or old amalgam fillings being replaced are flushed down the drain.   However, coal-fired power plants (quelle surprise!) industrial boilers, and cement plants and mining sites can discharge mercury into the environment.

Mercury is especially dangerous to pregnant women, babies and toddlers.  Even tiny amounts of exposure can disrupt brain function and harm the nervous system.  The Mercury Effluent Rule reduces the annual discharge of mercury by 5.1 tons to publicly owned WWTPs.  And dental offices are in support of this rule.  Mercury is hard to remove from wastewater streams so this is why it is so important to stem the discharge of the metal to the environment.

What part of this does The Donald and Pruitt not understand?

Fortunately, the NRDC was successful and June 9, the EPA restored the rule.


https://www.nrdc.org/experts/mae-wu/factsheet-limiting-mercury-pollution
 https://www.nrdc.org/media/2017/170609-1&s_src=FBNews&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=mercury
https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/epa-restores-mercury-protection-rule-thanks-nrdc-lawsuit?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tweet&utm_content=socialmedia
https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/epa-illegally-rolls-back-protections-mercury-pollution

The Oklahoman: People are being mean to poor, innocent Trump

Oklahoma's daily rag, the Oklahoman, has never been one to focus on facts and doesn't bother with the truth, as demonstrated in an editorial published yesterday, claiming vile attacks against The Donald are now "par for the course".

Now that may actually be true, but the opinion seems at a loss as to why this has happened.  Yet, they cannot even come up with reasons why we should NOT attack The Donald.

Look at one example:

"Following Trump's decision last week to remove the United States from the Paris Climate Accord, billionaire Tom Steyer called it “a traitorous act of war against the American people.” Bette Middler tweeted that there has “never in US history been such a destructive megalomanic in the WH. Thank you to US press and other numbskulls who put him there.” (That's especially rich — blaming the press for Trump's victory.)"

Why should The Donald not be criticized for a decision to pull us out of an agreement that nearly ever other country in the world supports, the majority of Americans supports, and is working to save our global environment. People have said "It's unfair to America!" The Oklahoman did not even mention that part of the argument.

Here's another:

"Criticism of Trump's impulsiveness is often merited, and was in this case. He shouldn't have tweeted about his policy preference so soon after what occurred in London. But that doesn't justify Aslan, who called Trump is “a piece of s---“ and said he was “not just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency. He's an embarrassment to humankind.”

I think we all the viral video of Eric Trump defending attacks against his papa, criticizing people's use of profanity, and name-calling.  Only to see clips of Trump, during his campaigning, using profanity (e.g. "a piece of s---") and name-calling.

Here's the last great one:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in an interview that his party's top priority “is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” He was speaking in a political context — GOP goals clearly weren't going to be realized with Obama in the White House...

He was speaking in a political context, all right.  But his message was clear:  We are not going to do the job we were elected to do.  We are going to focus on what WE want to do.  McConnell has shown himself to be the most hypocritical person in the Senate, which is saying quite a bit.

Editors at the Oklahoman:  Pull your head out of your asses...well, out of Trump's ass at least.  You can't even defend your own opinion.

http://newsok.com/vile-attacks-against-trump-have-become-par-for-the-course/article/5551980

Trump's war on the environment ramps up

Not a good week for the environment.

The Donald surprised no one when he announced he would remove the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, in which almost every nation in the world has agreed to put policies into place that would help reduce global warming.  From the beginning, The Donald said he did not believe global warming was real, calling it a hoax created by China (which he later denied saying).  News clips showed him sitting at the conference without headphones, demonstrating he was not even interested in listening to the speakers.  Simply childish.

Last week, scientists published a report refuting Scott Pruitt's claim that warming had levelled off.  Of course, Pruitt offered no evidence corroborating his statement, but scientists have collected mountains of data proving he is wrong.  The day after Pruitt's irresponsible rambling, NASA reported a "pulse of melting ice" was so large it actually put a dent into Earth's crust. The study indicates that as the Artic continues to warm, pulses like this could occur more frequently, and earthquakes can be created by Greenland's glaciers calving.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/24/scientists-just-published-an-entire-study-refuting-scott-pruitt-on-climate-change/?utm_term=.324d8aa55b7c

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/25/so-much-water-pulsed-through-a-melting-glacier-that-it-warped-the-earths-crust/?utm_term=.56bc1452f52f

Pruitt's EPA to Ohio: F**k you!

The west end of Lake Erie on the Ohio side is experiencing an algae bloom and not for the first time.  In 2014, an outbreak of blooms contaiminated the tap water in Toledo for about 400,000 people.  The algae blankets the surface of the lake with ugly shades of green, which can last most of the summer.  Algae is toxic and is a health threat to people and wildlife.

And it is recurring more often since global temperatures are on the rise.  Algae reached record levels in 2015.  Ohio and Michigan have taken steps to reduce farm fertilizer runoff and municipal sewage overflows that feed the algae, but these measures have not been successful.

Last month, several environmental groups sued the EPA to make a decision and enforce tighter regulations for polluters.  Molly Flanagan, of the Alliance for the Great Lakes said "By any measure, western Lake Erie does not meet the Clean Water Act's standards of fishable, drinkable, and swimmable for significant portions of the year."

Monday, Pruitt's EPA said it would not declare Lake Erie's wasters "impaired".

A search of the EPA's website does not show any mention of the issue, but this shocks no one who has seen the direction the EPA has taken under Pruitt's administration.  Their silence on the matter is deafening.  One cannot imagine Pruitt taking any action against polluters, but it is no stretch of the imagination to think he ignored the science and data behind the studies.


https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/ohio/articles/2017-05-23/epa-rejects-declaring-lake-eries-waters-in-ohio-impaired
http://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/2017/05/23/lake-erie-algae-ohio-epa/339448001/
http://www.cleveland19.com/story/35497783/epa-wont-declare-lake-eries-waters-in-ohio-impaired-by-toxic-algae
http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/EPA-rejects-declaring-Lake-Erie-s-waters-in-Ohio-11167144.php

More Oklahoma schools closing, eliminating teachers, because the House cannot pass a budget

Once again, our fearless leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives rejects a revenue package that “would have injected $342 million into next year’s budget”.  The package would have given Oklahoma teachers a whopping $1000/year raise.  It would hardly make a difference to teachers but it is better than nothing.  However, since the package failed, teachers will get nothing.

Now, school districts across the state are forced to make more major cuts to their budgets.  Enid school board has slashed next year’s budget by $1.8M.  Tulsa plans to close three schools to cut $12M, by consolidating five schools and eliminating 37 teachers.  Woodward and Muskogee are eliminating summer school and reducing staff to save $1M.  Fort Gibson is delaying hiring due to a $400K reduction in their budget.

House Bill 2414 includes a provision for gross production tax on oil and gas wells, but it only applies to new wells and will not affect next year’s budget.  Other proposed tax hikes were on cigarettes and gasoline, putting the onus on Oklahoma citizens to fix the budget.

Nothing is changing.  Legislators are still more concerned about oil and gas, and not education and students.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-school-districts-move-on-cuts-without-clear-budget-picture/article/5549452

http://newsok.com/facing-massive-budget-cuts-oklahoma-house-rejects-revenue-package/article/5549409?homePageWidget=1

Pruitt fires half the scientists on EPA's science review board

Continuing his neanderthal promises, Scott Pruitt once again has set the EPA backwards and putting our global environment in jeopardy.  Today, he informed 9 of 18 scientists who sit on EPA's science review board that their 3-year terms will not be renewed.  The email they received said something about carrying out a "competitive nomination process" to find new members, instead of re-instating incumbents.  It remains to be seen, but it is suspected that Pruitt will replace them with representatives from the energy industry.

CNN also just posted about 2 hours ago that The Donald is expected to pull the U.S. from the Paris Climate Deal this week, claiming it is unfair to the U.S.  These moves are expected to pave the way for more restrictions to be lifted from the oil and gas industry.




http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/08/politics/epa-scott-pruitt-board/

The Donald paves the way for the U.S. to become the world's biggest polluter

Yesterday, The Donald signed an executive order, telling the Environmental Protection Agency to reverse its course on the Clean Power Plan which President Obama put in place to reduce greenhouse gases from power plants.  According to the New York Times, The Donald said coal miners were going back to work.

This was part of The Donald's campaign promises but many say it is not going to work.  First of all, the demand for coal has been declining as (cheaper) natural gas and renewable energy sources are on the rise.  No energy company has plans to build new coal-burning plants, so The Donald's promises are just going to be hot air.  Like many of his other campaign "promises".  The move may save coal mining jobs from being eliminated, but not created.

The U.S. had signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 as part of a global effort to reduce carbon emissions and slow global warming.  The New York Times reports that the U.S. is the second biggest polluter in the world, so what will happen if The Donald takes us out of it?

The U.S. might become the world's biggest polluter!  Is that what The Donald meant by making America "great" again?


https://nyti.ms/2nJlxAt
https://nyti.ms/2nJlXqP

Oklahoma Higway Patrol facing huge budget cuts

First, Oklahoma City announces it might have to close schools because of budget cuts.  Now the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is bracing for the next round of cuts.  The agency is still reeling from cuts it experienced last year.  Since the state legislature refuses to end tax breaks and incentives for oil and gas, Oklahoma is facing a $900,000,000 budget deficit.

OHP Chief Rick Adams said:
"These cuts will force deeper operational restrictions, elimination of missions, possible closure of Headquarters, furloughs, and possible layoffs of troopers and other DPS employees. This Public Safety Crisis harms DPS and the OHP and will put lives at risk."
So what's Governor Scary Failing to do?  Cut funding to one of the most important agencies dedicated to our safety, of course!

Currently OHP has only about 600 officers, but ideally, they would have 950.  There were 845 in 1990.  Twenty-six percent of the force is close to retiring, and with no money for OHP training, it's going to be difficult to replace them.



http://www.newson6.com/story/34712366/ohp-braces-for-more-budget-cuts-fears-public-safety-will-suffer

http://www.news9.com/story/34708885/ohp-officials-outline-the-cost-of-a-possible-15-percent-budget-cut

http://www.miamiok.com/news/20170310/dpsohp-say-potential-budget-cut-significant-risk

Oklahoma City closing schools due to budget cuts

Always one to sacrifice education and children, Oklahoma's budget deficit and their government's unwillingness to stop sucking up to the oil & gas industry has led to Oklahoma City's school district to shut down several elementary schools.  The media has also blamed low enrollment as part of the reason for the closings, but it's clear in the articles the decrease in the state's budget is the main culprit.

Five elementary schools are on the chopping block: Edgemere, Gatewood, F.D. Moon, Green Pastures and Johnson.

The plan has also been labelled a "consolidation" plan since the students from the schools that are closing will be sent to other schools nearby.  They appear to be dancing around the subject, perhaps they don't want to "anger" Governor Scary Failing who continues to cut funding for education.




http://newsok.com/article/5542383
http://kfor.com/2017/03/20/several-schools-in-oklahoma-city-may-close-due-to-budget-crisis/

Inhofe accuses EPA of "brainwashing" children, offers no proof. Sound familliar?

Sen. Inhofe continues his parade of insults and accusations against the EPA, now claiming they are "brainwashing" our kids, but taking a page from The Donald's MO, offers no proof, no evidence and no reasoning bechind his false statements.

In this interview with CNN, he "justifies" Scott Pruitt's numerous law suits against the EPA by saying that other states havae also sued the EPA.  Why, Inhofe?  You don't say why.  You just keep accusing them of over-reaching their authority, brainwashing, and alarmism.

Pruitt doesn't "believe" carbon dioxide contributes to global warming

Scott Pruitt once again proves that he is not competent to head an agency that bases its actions on science.  Nor is he in any position to prove his outrageous claims, which can't be proven, because of the overwhelming evidence by scientists who know what they are doing.  Pruitt does not.

Pruitt stated that he does "not agree that [CO2] is a primary contributor to the global warming that we see."  So he admits there is global warming?  But where is the basis for his "belief"?  He choses to ignore what scientists have been tracking for over 100 years, with mountains of data to back their claims.

How do we impeach an EPA administrator?

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/09/519425866/epa-chief-scott-pruitt-questions-basic-facts-about-climate-change?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/epa-chief-scott-pruitt-says-carbon-dioxide-not-primary-contributor-n731141