OPINION

Pruitt can’t be trusted with economy or EPA: Your Say

Former White House staffer responds to EPA administrator.

USA TODAY
Environmental Protection Agency  Administrator Scott Pruitt

Letter to the editor:

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is fond of Yogi Berra’s quote: “The future ain’t what it used to be.” Reading his column in USA TODAY, however, another saying comes to mind: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Remarkably, Pruitt admitted the U.S. has succeeded at environmental protection, citing that from 1970 to 2015, “aggregate national emissions of the six common pollutants dropped an average of 70% while gross domestic product grew by 246%.”

Pruitt’s right. U.S. pollution standards are working for the economy and the American people. Yet he has started to dismantle those standards, in spite of their success.

Policing the USA

Scott Pruitt: We're protecting jobs and the environment

He’s reversing car pollution limits and fuel economy standards that save average consumers $8,000 at the pump over the life of their vehicles.

Up next? Pruitt’s looking to undo the National Climate Action Plan and its public health protections that reduce mercury pollution (a neurotoxin), carbon pollution (a major cause of climate change) and pollution associated with oil and gas operations.

In reality, Pruitt’s trying to “fix” the system in favor of corporate polluters. As Oklahoma’s attorney general, he defended polluters — suing EPA 14 times. He collected nearly $350,000 in political donations from them. At EPA, his pro-polluter mission remains the same, despite acknowledging we don’t have to protect polluters over people.

America has a long record of protecting our environment while growing our economy. But Pruitt seems to ignore his own words.

Heather Zichal, Former deputy assistant to President Obama; Washington, D.C.