Earth Equity News

White House Invokes Executive Privilege in EPA Dispute. By Richard Simon, LATimes, June 21, 2008. "The Bush administration has refused to turn over subpoenaed documents related to the agency's decision to prevent California [and 17 other states] from enacting stricter emissions standards than the federal government. The Bush administration asserted executive privilege hours before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was to vote on whether to bring contempt-of-Congress proceedings against EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson and Susan Dudley, administrator of regulatory affairs in the White House Office of Management and Budget, for refusing to turn over subpoenaed documents. Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) put off a vote on the contempt resolutions while he considers his options. 'I don't think we've had a situation like this since Richard Nixon was president,' he said, appearing determined to press ahead, even if it leads to a court fight."