Boy, what a reversal of fortune for the Environmental Protection Agency. After suffering years of neglect, staff cuts, and intimidation, it now stands to see its budget increased by 34 percent–among the largest bump for any federal agency in percentage terms. Much of the increase would fund clean water projects and restore the Superfund Tax, which expired in 1995, raising an estimated $6.6 billion by 2014 for hazardous waste cleanup. As if to underscore the EPA’s return to favored agency status, Michelle Obama spoke at agency HQ while her husband was unveiling his budget yesterday. “Your work will not only save our planet and clean up our environment,” she said. “It’s going to transform our economy and create millions of well-paying jobs.” Her optimism reminds me of Bush’s love for his faith-based initiatives, but at least this time around there’s a bit more evidence behind the hope.
