Audit The Pollutenator

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Jul 02, 2007 - 01:30 PM

Audit The Pollutenator

by Jamie Court

The independent state auditor should investigate the reason for the dismissal of Air Resource Board Chairman Bob Sawyer after the resignation of Board executive director Catherine Witherspoon today. The public deserves to know the truth behind the firing and Governor Schwarzenegger should welcome the investigation to clear the air.

Witherspoon told the Fresno Bee the "inner circle" in the Governor's office tried to quash clean air regulation. "The day-to-day orders that we receive from the governor's office are to do less; to delay; to not burden industry."

Witherspoon said the reason given for Sawyer's departure was a "cover-up." According to the Bee:

Schwarzenegger aides were worried that Sawyer was moving too aggressively on rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The real reason for firing him which was climate change policy," she said. Sawyer "sought to adopt more early action measures than the governor's office wanted."

Californians deserve the truth and Schwarzenegger should welcome the state auditor's probe.

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