EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Will Weaken Emissions Standards

Every day, there is an overflowing well of bad news about the nefarious machinations of the profoundly corrupt and cruel Trump administration. So much of it is about Trump himself that it's easy to lose track of all the trash-doings by the rest of his horrendous crew.

One of the worst offenders is EPA Chief Scott Pruitt, about whom there's been a flurry of bad news the past few days:

Eric Lipton at the New York Times: Pruitt Had a $50-a-Day Condo Linked to Lobbyists; Their Client's Project Got Approved.

Sam Stein and Lachlan Markay at the Daily Beast: EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's Lobbyist-Owned Pad Was GOP Fundraising Hub.

Elaina Plott and Robinson Meyer at the Atlantic: Scott Pruitt Bypassed the White House to Give Big Raises to Favorite Aides.

Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis at the Washington Post: EPA Explored Private Jet Lease for Pruitt's Travels Last Year.

And dueling reports that the White House considered firing Pruitt and that the White House has his back.

I'm quite certain the White House has Pruitt's back so long as he continues to do that with which he was tasked: Destroying the integrity of the EPA and using his power as chief to roll back regulations instituted to protect the environment.

Among all the other news about the deeply corrupt Pruitt is some news about how he is definitely still doing that job — to our collective misfortune.

Mark Hard at ThinkProgress: EPA Chief Scott Pruitt to Weaken Fuel Efficiency and Emissions Standards for New Cars.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans on Monday to roll back tailpipe emissions standards for automakers established by the Obama administration. The decision is expected to increase greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions from the transportation sector — the largest carbon-emitting sector in the nation.

According to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, proposed greenhouse gas emission standards for cars, pick-up trucks, and sport utility vehicles for model years 2022-2025 are too aggressive.

That air you like breathing so much risked becoming too clean. Can't have that.

This, as hospitals have decided it's more profitable to neglect asthma than fix it, and as the Republican Party continues to try to erode access to healthcare.

Trump didn't hire Pruitt to drain the swamp, but to turn actual swamps toxic with environmental poisons. He's doing a bang-up job, and there's precious little we can do to stop him.

MAKE YOUR CALLS to your representatives and senators all the same, to register your disapproval of Pruitt and his dangerous policies.