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Lisa Jackson is stepping down from her post as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency after a four-year term.
"I will leave the EPA confident the ship is sailing in the right direction, and ready in my own life for new challenges, time with my family and new opportunities to make a difference," she said in a statement announcing her departure.
Kevin Wolf / AP
This file photo shows Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson during an interview with The Associated Press at EPA Headquarters in Washington. Jackson, The Obama administration's chief environmental watchdog, is stepping down after a nearly four-year tenure marked by high-profile brawls over global warming pollution, the Keystone XL oil pipeline, new controls on coal-fired plants and several other hot-button issues that affect the nation's economy and people's health.
Jackson, 50, is expected to depart the E.P.A. early next year. She is the first African-American to head the agency.
Her tenure at the helm of the E.P.A. was marked by clashes with some in the GOP and the energy industry who said environmental regulations limited job creation and hurt new innovation. The administration abandoned an attempt early in President Barack Obama's first term to pass cap-and-trade legislation to address global climate change. That legislation failed to pass the Senate, and the E.P.A. moved instead on a series of regulatory efforts including successful implementation of emissions standards for new cars and small trucks.
"I want to thank President Obama for the honor he bestowed on me and the confidence he placed in me four years ago this month when he announced my nomination as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency," she said in her statement, which indicated she will leave the cabinet after the State of the Union address. "At the time I spoke about the need to address climate change, but also said: 'There is much more on the agenda: air pollution, toxic chemicals and children’s health issues, redevelopment and waste-site cleanup issues, and justice for the communities who bear disproportionate risk.'"
Saying that Jackson has been "an important part of my team," Obama praised those efforts in a statement.
"Under her leadership, the EPA has taken sensible and important steps to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, including implementing the first national standard for harmful mercury pollution, taking important action to combat climate change under the Clean Air Act and playing a key role in establishing historic fuel economy standards that will save the average American family thousands of dollars at the pump, while also slashing carbon pollution."
In an interview with the New York Times, Jackson said she intends to "decompress" and do public speaking engagements but does not yet have plans for a new job.
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I enjoy having clean water to use, clean air to breath, clean rivers and lakes for all our enjoyment and having a Democrat running this agency we are better assured to have them than have some republican ideologue doing what their pushed to not do by the those 'fine' captains of industry, the Koch Bros and their republican cohorts.
Thank you Secretary Jackson for your hard work to help keep our environment safe and clean for all, even the ones who don't think we need such necessities.
This story sounds and feels more like SPRING CLEANING to me.
Every time I see or here this phrase ( more time with the family ) . To me it means they got sacked or they are about to get sacked.
Agreed GBM. This was an agency established by a GOP president (Nixon) that has potentially helped this country more than any other government agency. Without them, we would still have cars emitting massive amounts of pollution, averaging around 5-7 MPH (talk about a drain on the home finances). We could still light our lakes and rivers on fire with a simple match. Gulf oil spills would be a yearly event. The most important thing is to ensure future appointed officials are unlike the FDA, where they appoint puppets of the pharma industry into the leadership role of the agency. These agencies should be in direct conflict with the corporations they regulate.
Gingerbread Mamma
You couldn't have been around in the 60's and 70's. Now that was dirty! The most meaningful improvements took place then when we shaved hundreds per thousand of people no longer dying from pollution.
Most restrictions the EPA of today puts in place reduces presumed deaths by only 1 or 2 per thousand and cost far more jobs than lives saved.
As for her personal record, many of these have been fiat rather than properly approved of by congress. Many of her issued standards have either been delayed or stopped by Obama himself. This whether for political purposes or simply just being practical. I have to wonder if she was just too radical for even Obama who is further left than Hillary.
Ms. Jackson was an Administrator, not a Secretary. Small difference, but it means she's not in the presidential line of succession.
I find it sad that efforts to demonize the EPA have been so successful. I don't know about many of you, but I like not being poisoned. Kudos to Ms. Jackson for all her work, and may the EPA continue to stand strong against industry propaganda after she's left.
Agreeed GBM & RedDev . . . .
Bob, from the article ...
And she needs to after standing up to the idiots in the GOP for years who think that we should go back to what this country looked like prior to Nixon establishing the agency. Do you all remember what the highways looked like? Rivers? National Parks? Remember the ad with the Indian crying? Thankfully our children will grow up with a much healthier respect of the environment thanks to her efforts.
She did nothing for this nation, she contributed plenty to the weakening of this nation.
GBM, well said. Thank you EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for all you did.
bob1, so is that why all those folks left the Bush 43 administration? It is normal, whether republican or democrat, that after serving 2, 3, 4 years in any administration, for people to want to get back to their homes and a more normal life.
DB Akron, you failed to mention how loudly your side screamed at the idea of some of those regulations being implemented; now you try to turn that into a negative for the Obama administration. No wonder the term "hypocrite" so aptly describes a republican.
Good Morning RedDev......I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas.
Starting the EPA was one of the few beneficial decisions Richard Nixon made that helped all citizens and he doesn't get enough credit for it. For republicans to day, it is one of their favorite targets to bash as part of 'big' government, and I often wonder how many of them even know the role he played in getting it started. If it hadn't been done, today the US might look like a scene from Wall-E, and agree it should always be headed by someone who appreciates the consequences of not having proper regulations to ensure we keep what we have or even improve it a bit more. It wouldn't hurt to keep reminding people to do their fair share by teaching their children the importance of the environment in our daily lives.
I just heard on the news this morning this has been the warmest year for planet earth in recorded history, and the reporter choose to hem and haw about whether this is the result of human activity, as they call it, that is to say, the burning of fossil fuels. Thank the Koch Brothers for funding climate change deniers and the campaign to muddy this issue, which prevents governments from taking action to address it. Thank Republicans for slowing our response to global warming. Oh, yes, gotta save those jobs, who cares if the oceans rise and Texas dries up from drought?
Best to get out before all the changes hit the public........ get ready for the EPA dictating how to change the water in your dog's bowl............
Good riddance!!! Much of what the EPA has tried to under her tenure has been overreaching and ill advised. She had to push her agenda through fiat directives instead of the legislative process because even many Democrats realized that her agenda was too extreme and economically unworkable. Many of her initiatives ended up dying or being overruled. I can not think if one significant accomplishment of the EPA over the last four years that she was behind. The one major change, the increased fuel efficiency standards for cars was initiated from the White House policy office, not from her. Her war on coal did serious economic damage to areas of this country. She failed to recognize the reality that with existing technologies being used, coal plants are not the big bad polluters they once were and that trying to force closure of coal fired power plants too quickly was straining the electrical grid and driving up energy prices. With the abundance of natural gas we now have in this country there will be a natural shift toward using this energy source in new plants that are built to replace aging coal plants that are shutting down. There was no reason for her attack against coal and she did some pretty serious damage through her action. I am glad that she is gone and hopefully Obama will appoint someone who is a little more pragmatic to replace her.
DB......I was around in the 60's and the 70's and know how abused our environment had become so very much welcomed the establishment of this agency and the regulations necessary to make it a success. I'm glad for my sake, my children and grandchildren, who have been taught the value of our natural resources and the role they play in our lives.
Today, unfortunately, it is more necessary than ever to keep and upgrade regulations to protect our planet as we have far too many unscrupulous companies owned and run by individuals who think they don't have to answer to anyone because they want to do as they please usually just to make a profit with no regard for the long term consequences. This failure to act responsibly has to be regulated as their actions are not for the common good and they should be.
From the article above:
Thank you for your service, Lisa. America is better now because of your dedication and hard work.
Like every President before, many government employees serve one term then move on to either spend more time with family, teach at a university, or join the lucrative lecture circuit.
I would much rather live in a country where we as a people take care of our environment than not at all. It's a reflection of who we are and what it means to be an American. We have a beautiful country, "from sea to shining sea", and we need to take care of it for future generations.
Corporations that cannot adjust to changing times or cannot adapt to regulations that protect our natural resources for ourselves and our children should go out of business.
It's called Capitolism and survival of the fittest.
I believe that part of being successful in business is a company's ability to adapt and be innovative in changing times. Those are the companies that are good for America. Those are the companies that benefit everyone.
Salud
Good Morning Jody, hope you are not too snowbound!
This nonsense of claiming someone is leaving and office because they might be fired or some other reason the right will claw at to try to make the Obama administration look bad, is just that, nonsense, and you are correct to make that point.
Most of these folks who make such disparaging remarks have got to be political neophytes who never paid attention to anything happening inWashington, until the black guy arrived in the WH. Now its their favorite sport, poor things they need something for their entertainment. They sit behind an anonymous keyboard and vent their frustrations of life by bashing and ridiculing their President and they lie and conjecture according to their own narrow little worlds. Sigh.
DB Akron: "Most restrictions the EPA of today puts in place reduces presumed deaths by only 1 or 2 per thousand and cost far more jobs than lives saved."
Just curious.....if it was your spouse or parent or sibling or child who was that 1 or 2 per thousand who was "presumed" saved, how many jobs would you consider a reasonable cost for saving them?
typical RWNJ stupidity
"strength through pollution!, YEAH!"
the problem being that the coal industry fought tooth and nail to prevent any of those technologies from being used.
"clean coal", what a joke.
Good point, Amy! All one has to do is take notice of the ever-crazier weather, with stronger and more frequent storms, floods, droughts, tornadoes and hurricanes which cause increasing death and disruption to our daily lives.
Our coastal cities are in peril and we cannot travel without worrying about the weather. Anyone who has been around more than a couple decades can see that we are entering a time of increased extremes in weather patterns. Deny global warming if you wish, but that won't change reality.
JoAnn in PA,
Don't accept that statement about the EPA to be factual. The EPA is now saving 15,000 lives per year with just this one new Act. When DB and others throw out statistics without including links to support their claims, they're usually just making things up.
104% of uncited statistics are false ;-)
markwills,
Correct. There really is no such thing as clean coal. We have absolutely no idea how to do that, even after working on it for many, many years:
Another Rat jumping ship.....
Good riddance to another inept political hack.
The EPA has outlived its usefulness, now it is just another Socialist tool to legislate without the congressional process.
JMJ-
Was Rush Limbaugh on a cruise?
Salud
wow Tomas, think that one up yourself?
I notice that it wasn't mentioned she's being investigated by Congress because of EPA officials including herself utilizing personal off the record email accounts to send notes back and forth regarding actual federal business.
That's a no-no because of record keeping laws with how they conducted themselves and what goes or went into their decisions. Big part was how the EPA was choosing to selectively enforce the laws regarding protecting migratory birds. A protected bird drops into a oil well, company gets fined thousands of dollars. Flock of protected birds fly into a wind farm and get turned into puddy, the farm barely gets a warning.
Good riddance, and welcome as a member of the "I left the Obama Club".
I hope see takes the time to THINK about what she has done to the American energy sector. Nah, she will try to rewrite her own history.....typical Progressive way of doing business.
Maybe she will "teach" environmental standards at Berkeley with emphasis on "saving mushrooms".
Someone take her to FEDERAL COURT because the DOJ certainly will not.
LMAO. All of you complaining, look on the packages of goods you purchase and see if Made In China is on there. Then go see the amount of unregulated pollution occuring in that hemisphere. By purchasing their goods you are doing as much damage to the climate that you claim you are trying to protect.
Jo-anne,
The unfortuneate thing about these estimates is that the death rates in different types of deaths are far lower than the statistics that were used to install the standards.
No matter how you look at things, too much of anything will kill you, just as much as not enough of anything will kill you.
Did you follow all the "flops" the EPA has made in the name of cleaner air and water? The biggest offender was MTBE. Nobody with half a brain uses it, and yet that is still the preferred anti-carbon additive for gasoline. It was far more prudent to the EPA to intruduce a substance that if released in water poisons 1000 gallons with just one drop. Then when consumed in fuel reduces airborne carbon, but introduces formeldyhyde and it's longer lasting 3 cousins, all known to inflame respiriatory problems. Manufactureres stopped using MTBE because they were sued by SMARTER people who proved the material was not worth those being harmed and potentially being harmed by it's use.
There are no studies with what health problems will result with the MTBE alternatives.
Here's one on EPA emmissions standards. Measurements were taken as a percent by volume. Manufactures simply pumped enough volume of air into the exhaust to get the contaminats to pass the permissible amount. I.E. the vehicles with the equipment were actualy polluting just as much as those without the equipment and in some cases more because many lost fuel mileage meaning more fuel burnt to go the same distance.
Retired
The processes of favor have become liquifiying or gasifying the coal. In those forms they are able to remove enough impurities that they can make the product burn cleaner than marcellous shale gas. The issue is the cost of the processing, otherwise, yes it can be done.
The EPA and the administration are useless as ever. There is not one decent thing they accomplished in the last 4 years. All smoke and mirrors and some gag orders for the auto industry.
As to the administrator, Good Riddance!, you did nothing to improve anything.
"Jackson to step down as EPA chief" . So based on recent history in Obama's administration I guess that means she'll be getting a raise, new job title and new desk.
oh yeah another GOP witch hunt.....guess those guys/gals have nothing to do what so ever....
Dear Wastington: we see through the BS. You all are working to ONLY play against each other....anyone who says differently, OBAMA, is lying!! And a sad see-thru lie it is.
Transparency: to watch Washington at their real game, the game of who can make the other look worse..
America, when are we going to get our country back from these crooks in washington?
i agree, the EPA is as useless as the FDA...they decided to go politics and now they are the very pollution that needs ridding.
but its still all about some stupid witch hunt...dont let them fool you by using the environment...they could care less...its about posturing
Freedom of infromation act can go suck an egg...should be renamed: "freedom to screw everyone over that you dont like"
IndustrialStrength ...
Why don't you go tell that to people in neighboring countries that are clamoring for clean, drinkable water just to start with. Oh, sorry, you're an American citizen! It's your "right" to have that and for the government to insure that you DO have it but by God you're not going to fund nor care how that happens.
Seriously, next time you get a chance, go to a Third World country and spend some time showing them how to filter waste water so it is potable maybe you'll appreciate what you have a little more afterwards.
she thinks she can act like hillary and disappear from here job, so she doesn't have to answer for the fake email's she used to extort decision's she needed passed...
don't worry eric holder, hold's NO ONE responsible for any wrong deeds...
what a smokescreen article aiding and abetting the cover up. go to fox or reuters or anywhere but nbc and see her azz was in the frying pan. time for an investigation while she decompresses.
Any sources that aren't conservative propaganda wings, stronghorse?
She was very pro-environment, pro-citizen as this comment tells:
The New York Times indicates that Jackson’s resignation may be a commentary on Obama, “as many in the environmental movement are questioning Mr. Obama’s commitment to dealing with climate change and other environmental problems.” Jackson considered resigning last year when Obama reportedly spiked a proposed regulation due to concern that the damage to the economy could weaken his reelection hopes.
More and more people are questioning our nations response to climate change. Hottest year on record so far including last year which was the hottest year on record before.
Stepping down because she is being investigated for violating the law on use of multiple e-mail accounts with fictitious names. Another Obama hack that can't abide by the law goes down with the MSM covering her ass during the fall
yet the US is one of only two countries that actually have declined in CO2 output. the US dropped by 7% and Germany dropped by 3%
I would like to point out that Richard Nixon, a conservative republican founded the EPA. Ms. Jackson was meerly a placeholder who squandered a great opportunity to make a difference. Just my thoughts
This useless dingbat had a fake email account and name so she could deceive watchdog groups on her illegal activities, like condoning lawsuits against the EPA by fringe groups so when asked why she'd cave into their demands, she'd lay bame on the lawsuit. 60 Minutes did a scathing report on this scam. Good riddence to bad garbage.
These are the same people forcing E-15 gasoline on us. Good luck with better mileage and performance. By the way. Most car makers will NOT COVER ANY ENGINE DAMAGE to your car caused by the new E-15 fuel. They stuck it to us again !!!!!
bob1/28-
F.Y.I.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Pub.L. 110-140 originally named the Clean Energy Act of 2007) is an Act of Congress concerning the energy policy of the United States. As part of the Democratic Party's 100-Hour Plan during the 110th Congress, it was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia, along with 198 cosponsors. Despite Rahall becoming 1 of only 4 Democrats to oppose the final bill it passed in the House without amendment in January 2007. When the Act was introduced in the Senate in June 2007, it was combined with Senate Bill S. 1419: Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. This amended version passed the Senate on June 21, 2007.
After further amendments and negotiation between the House and Senate, a revised bill passed both houses on December 18, 2007 and President Bush, a Republican, signed it into law on December 19, 2007 in response to his "Twenty in Ten" challenge to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years.
TomasGrande, how come you folks always defend bad policy by popinting out to us that President Bush supported it? We've been told over and over again that Bush was a bad guy. I was no fan of Bush, but our current President is doing more damage to this nation than any predecessor in recent history.
For some reason he thinks that "Blame Bush" is a be all end all answer to everything republican.
Get out!
Good riddance and you can't leave soon enough. The EPA has become far too overreaching and has abused it's powers far too much against ordinary citizens of this country.
"far too overreaching and has abused it's powers far too much against ordinary citizens of this country." --How so?
Don't let the door hit you ion the azz and too bad Obama isn't going with you.
As the exodus continues! Kind of like rats from a sinking ship.
actually, its fairly routine after a presidential election for a bunch of people in the administration to leave or be replaced. every two-term president has done the same.
Ha. I knew something smelled as i read this story. Crooked as the rest. Of coarse she's protected by the regime. Good for people that actually do their jobs in that agency without exploiting their position to help slezzebag lawyers steal from the tax payers.
So this broad punches the clock just long enough for a nice retirement package. Whadda country!
Hey, the Cheney sisters did the same. Mary's pension guarantees her in vitro baby and her tough looking wife benefits too if they move to Maryland.
Bu...Bu.....But republicans do it too! Waaaa sniffle sniffle!
Now abolish the EPA.
Hopefully your land and water will get contiminated and that silly horse gets poisoned too
What was Ms Jackson's position on fracking?? Yeah she was really protecting our environment. Coming to a watershed near YOU soon...
This EPA thinks that they're another branch of the government. Ms Jackson was clever to bail now; the criminal (not civil) indictments of her staff are coming. Watch these beaurocrats cower and try to 'run out the door' like their boss did when Congress (both Parties) levels the charges.
The EPA is kind of like Unions it was needed at one time but has out lived it usefulness and now impedes growth. Not saying it needs to be disbanded but definitely needs to be curtailed.
What aspect/s need/s to be curtailed and why? Do you have any examples of significant overreach/bad judgment you could provide (with citations)?
another rat jumps off the sinking ship.
boomer812 (and ozzieyo1 above here and plthink90 below) -
Apparently you missed the news last month. The ship isn't sinking - the American people voted to keep it afloat for another four years. Any self-respecting "rat" would have jumped BEFORE the election, not after. I realize it doesn't fit your narrative, but the fact is, very few political appointees or cabinet secretaries stay around for the whole eight years under ANY President, Republican or Democrat.
Ronald Reagan had five different EPA aministrators and George W. Bush had four. Were they all rats and flies as well?
JoAnne in PA
Well done, JoAnne.
Seams like our friends on the right side of the aisle got a whole new bag of conspiracy theories for Christmas.
I guess as long a Faux is around, there will always be misinformed stooges to spread the BS.
Salud
Pretty easy for them when you liberals toss them ammunition like its your job. Come on grow up and become the real progressives you want to be. What are you going to say when one by one they are subpoenaed and charged?
Big "What If?"... I would venture to guess that will happen right after Cheny/Bush get their deserved Prison Time. After they are supoenaed and charged.
Get it? Don't try to 'con' a 'lib'.
wow, they are dropping like flies. I see something on the horizon.
Perhaps a mirage?
good riddens, we need to close the whole agency as they are more harmfull than good. destroying the base economy, costing families more in electric costs, heating costs, fuel for cars, cost of cars all while having their hands in the pockets of manufacturing businesses and raising the cost of almost everything we buy. what they need to do is a broad study on the economic effects of the epa and come up with reasonable regulations that are self monitered with checks to make sure not having to pay the epa to say you can make something or import something even though they would pass all the overkill regulations we have. time to close the whole thing and start over...
"good riddance" A removal of something undesirable.
afn
Thank you Ms Jackson for driving polluters and money hungry industrialists nuts. You are in the same league as Teddy Roosevelt in protecting America's lands, their beauty and pristine streams.
Lets hope President Obama gets his testosterone levels high and pushes cap and trade in 2013. Mr. President you are not dealing with reasonable politicians. The Tea Party and their little sister, the GOP have two missions: dismantle government and make your 2nd term twice as miserable as the first one. Look in the mirror if they succeed
Bye, Bye. afn
gREAT STUFF !! Now, that the country is broke and we are 16 Trillion in Debt, why not just shut down all these agencies that cost us milllions and do nothing !! That is right, do nothing....except make it hard for companies to make a profit and hire people. All the jobs have gone to Mexico and over-seas....thanks to Obama, and his EPA !!
Errr no that would be NAFTA, and various free trade treaties that did that. If the argument is that we need to lower standards to compete, than what level would be acceptable to compete with slave labor in China?
I'll put the Sierra Club CEO in charge of the EPA
I am guessing that she simply wants to move on for whatever reason is completely unacceptable. Ever think it's not a political move? Maybe she just wants to move on. Crikey.... Not everything is a political conspiracy...
Adios. Now take another 50,000 government fat cats with you.
What a relief...I worked there and she was the worst Administrators of my 30 year career. Next up!
to John Doe: Somehow your statement rings true!
EPA ? Enviromental Protection Agency , it died shortly after its creation and is now nothing more than another money wasting Government entity!
Gee Lisa, don't be modest. Nice when you give your evaluation of your own performance to the media.