So where is Jeb Bush on the Florida flap over EPA's Hg proposal?

[baby_bear]

This is an interesting article, but interesting for its lack of any mention of the governor. Wouldn't you think he could use his influence...?

http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_2798435,00.html

Florida officials battle EPA over mercury emissions plan

</snip>

Florida's lawmakers, public health officials and environmental advocates are waging a fierce battle against the way the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to curtail mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, the nation's largest unregulated sources of mercury.

Mercury is released into Florida's air from coal-fired power plants and deposited into state waters and the Gulf of Mexico, where it's taken up by fish. The toxin is then passed to those who eat the fish.

...
Lawmakers and local environmental officials say the EPA proposal threatens the health of Florida's children and the state's seafood industry. Earlier this month, a coalition of 45 U.S. senators — including Florida's Bill Nelson and Bob Graham — sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt urging him to withdraw the proposal.
...

Mercury threatens Florida's fish and the tourism dollars tangled with those fish, the senator (Nelson) wrote in his Jan. 30, 2004, letter request for the EPA to hold a hearing in Florida, noting that recreational fishing adds $4 billion a year to Florida's economy. Nelson said he never received a response. The Florida Public Interest Research Group's push for a hearing was equally fruitless.

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read more...

I suspect Leavitt would like to abandon this proposal, but would Cheney allow it? I doubt it, unless Rove decides it's a pivotal campaign issue. Even then, there's all that money the energy companies love to donate to this administration...My guess is that they will find a way to "revisit" this issue temporarily but then finalize it as a rule in December, regardless of the outcome of the election. Any takers?

s_m

[NNadir]

1. Jeb is a Bush before he's a governor.

His last priority is the people of Florida and their health or well being.

[seasat]

2. Jebbie is all for the short term need for coal power plants

They fund his economic vision for Florida...row after row of retirement communities replacing all available coastal property and wet lands. The cheapest and fastest way in the short term to expand power is through building more coal fired plants. Jebbie's vision requires that increase in utility capacity so he is all for his brother's idiotic mercury regulations that make that expansion easier. Without the increase in population how can Jebbie keep up his tax cuts for the wealthy?