This is too good to pass up. You may have heard of various lawsuits by the States against the EPA claiming that the EPA is not doing their job. Now, the EPA is trying to defend itself by not answering questions and redacting meeting notes.
“EPA is concerned about the chilling effect that would occur if agency employees believed their frank and honest opinions and analysis expressed as part of assessing California’s waiver request were to be disclosed in a broad setting,” EPA’s associate administrator Christopher P. Bliley wrote.
I think they have forgotten they work at OUR pleasure (as does the President). These people are afraid of getting knocked on the head for speaking their mind, which might be reasonable. Except that if we don’t know what they are saying and thinking how can we know whether to trust them or replace them. This aspect is far more important than any supposed “chilling effect”. Such thinking indicates that this dept doesn’t agree with the public. That’s an impossible position for a government agency to take as it removes accountability.
Is it just me or does anyone else find it odd that many highly educated people can make this argument with a straight face in front of their peers? That’s more troubling.
Thinking one step ahead,..
It’s very fashionable these days for the regulatory agency and regulated industry to hop jobs. Perhaps, the comments they are worried about would affect getting an industry job or maintaining the job once they got it.