This week, typical of of the Bush administration’s ineptitude, the EPA decided to take no new action on global warming emissions. The EPA called for a 120 day comment period on the report, thus passing the buck to the new administration. Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger slammed the Bush administration’s decision to not take action as further evidence it did not believe in global warming.

Why do we need a 120 day comment period on the issue of global warming? Didn’t James Hansen already begin the comment period 20 years ago with his testimony to Congress on climate change? Schwarzenegger, who signed historic legislation in 2006 that imposed limits on greenhouse gases, agrees saying the inaction:

really means basically this administration did not believe in global warming, or they did not believe that they should do anything about it since China is not doing anything about it and since India is not willing to do the same thing, so why should we do the same thing?

Harsh words from a Republican who is considering a post in the Obama cabinet. When asked about Obama last December, Governor Schwarzenegger said, “There are things I don’t agree with him on, but he’s taken leadership on a very difficult issue [climate change] and we haven’t seen that kind of leadership in Washington.” This week, he even went so far as to call Obama the presumptive president in stating he would take his call about a cabinet position, “now and I’d take his call when he’s president, anytime.”

The EPA’s decision to not take action follows a Supreme Court ruling last year that ordered the agency to devise regulations for polluting emissions from cars under the Clean Air Act. Even though Schwarzenegger is upset the Bush administration failed to take action, he also stated any action would appear “bogus” at this late stage of the presidency. Once again, the US fails to lead the way on climate change legislation.

Image: Speechable

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