Senate Democrats press EPA chief

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, February, 2008 | by John Shiffman Inquirer Staff Writer

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats pressed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson yesterday about whether the White House had played a role in his decision to reject California's request to enact strong auto-emissions rules. But during a hearing, Johnson refused to say whom he had spoken to about his decision to deny California and 15 other states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, permission to adopt their own more stringent standards designed to reduce global warming.

"I don't know what you're hiding," said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.), the chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. "It's as if you're taking the Fifth Amendment." California officials, dissatisfied with weaker federal rules governing tailpipe emissions, asked for a...