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Daily News Archive
From April 26, 2001

LCV Reports On Bush's First 100 Days

Calling the first three months of the Bush administration an "environmental failure," the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) today released a citizen's guide detailing the president's environmental actions during his first 100 days in office. The guide highlights the many environmental rollbacks, delays and broken promises of this administration, while acknowledging several pro-environment steps for which Bush has taken credit.

"The Bush administration's environmental assault during its first 100 days has failed the majority of Americans who want stronger, better enforced environmental safeguards," said LCV President Deb Callahan. "Bush clearly believes in recycling; he's claimed credit and sought praise for recycling the policies of his predecessor. In the end, President Bush's environmental agenda is driven by special interests, not the public interest, and his actions threaten decades of progress to protect our health and our natural resources."

Among the more controversial moves, the Bush administration rolled back protections against arsenic in drinking water set by the Clinton administration. Beyond Pesticides/NCAMP criticized the rollback, noting that arsenic is an endocrine disruptor and known carcinogen. Chuck Fox, the ex-EPA official who helped draft the Clinton policy, was stunned by the announcement. "This action will jeopardize the health of millions of Americans, and it compromised literally a decade's worth of work on behalf of developing a public health standard."

According to LCV, bipartisan polling shows by more than a 3 to 1 margin that voters prefer candidates who support environmental protection over those supporting corporate interests. Upcoming votes on the president's anti-environment agenda will show which side members of Congress are on, placing their political future and the environmental future of our country on the same footing.