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US citizens deserve and need objective people in any and every part of the US goverment in the federal, state and municipal level. There must be no conflict of interest or even any suggestion of a conflict of interest. Men and women in high, influential positions who are part of lobbying groups, shouldn't be in positions of influence in any cabinet position where the health and welfare of the US may depend on their say so. Hopefully Obama is weeding out goverment officials with conflicts of interest. Americans need and deserve objective information.

A specific case I believe, is the fact that major executive members of the American Chemical Council were selected by former President, George W. Bush, to be in prominant positions in the Department of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For the record the ACC was formerly known as the Chemical Manufacturer's Assn. This includes the American Solvent Council. The ACC is the direct lobbying group for chemical manufacturers. I'm hoping they are no longer with the EPA now that Obama is president. The names of the two men and their positions are as follows: James Counaughton-Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality and Jeffrey Holmstead, EPA Director of Air and Radiation. Even if these men were removed by our present chief executive, in my opinion, they never should of been part of the EPA. It is my belief that no US cabinet position should be taken by anybody who could possess conflict of interest or with a special agenda. ACC was a major contributor to Bush's 2nd term presidency campaign.

Some specific bills included those dealing with the toxic substance control act, decreasing green house gas emissions, changing the safe drinking act to make it more friendly toward the ACC. There are many more examples of how the ACC lobbied for the weakening of the EPA to the detriment of the health and safety of the American public. This is in the year 2008 only.

Generally speaking, US citizens look to the EPA for environmental information. The environment effects everybody. It cuts across politics, income, ethnicity, gender, religion etc. It is of utmost importance. We know how our air, water, etc. quality is. This is important in the work place for workers who may be exposed to dangerous chemicals. We need, must insist on, total objectivity. We can't settle for less. Our very health, perhaps our lives, are at stake.

Recently, in the last month or so, Congressman John Dingell D. of Michigan is investigating the ACC and EPA for conflict of interest. This is especially regarding kick backs that may have been given and received by executives in the EPA who were major officials in the ACC previously to being in the Environmental Protection Agency.

Being a former worker for the Clean Air Council of Philadelphia ,PA, there is a personal interest in environmental issues. Plus I've been in contact with the Sierra Club and the League of Conservationist.

My sources are www.sourcewatch.org, www.opensecrets.org and Environmental Working Group.

Learn more about this author, Lynda Kohn.
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