SEN VITTER 2 5%

<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">7/16 main kind of crowded</font></p>

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<p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">lost gov?  will quit jungle primary  9 cands incl david duke yet again
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<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">promoted to evil 9/14 b/c profits from coal and wrote rept that sez green billioniares do reg capture of EPA</font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span style=" background-color: #FFF200;">took inhofe chair:</span> <b>January 9, 2013 The new top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, but not 6/15; he's gotten worse since/ cf attack am lung assoc he worked with a year ago?</b></font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">helps issa of jud witch hunts: --> fail thus blowback?</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/04012017/exxon-climate-investigation-jeff-sessions-attorney-general-trump">https://insideclimatenews.org/news/04<b>012017</b>/exxon-climate-investigation-jeff-sessions-attorney-general-trump</a></font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>over the past year, the battle lines formed along partisan lines on the question of whether the Justice Department should launch a probe into<a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/tags/exxon-climate" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"> ExxonMobil</a>'s stance on climate change.</b></font></p><div class="content" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>The designated referee in that battle was to have been U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who received the formal letters staking out each side's position on an investigation.</b></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">One of those letters, sent by five Republican senators sympathetic to Exxon, carried the signature of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, who is<a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/topics/donald-trump" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;"> Donald Trump</a>'s choice to succeed Lynch as the next attorney general.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3222852-Sessions-Letter-to-Lynch.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;">That letter</a> argued that a federal investigation of Exxon would suppress debate on the validity of climate change and amounted to prosecutorial misconduct. Any investigation of the oil giant must be stopped immediately and no future probes initiated, Sessions and the other senators told Lynch.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">If he is confirmed by the Senate to replace Lynch, Sessions will become the nation's top law enforcement officer and would hold ultimate authority on the future of any federal investigations of Exxon, making it highly unlikely that any investigation underway would proceed any further. Sessions did not respond to an interview request.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sessions would have a seat at Trump's cabinet table alongside like-minded climate denialists tapped to run the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Departments of Commerce, Interior and Energy. And even if Rex Tillerson, Trump's choice for secretary of state, has acknowledged the scientific consensus that the risks of climate change are real and need to be dealt with, he has been the chief executive of Exxon for the past 10 years.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In other words, Sessions will fit comfortably into an administration loaded with supporters of the fossil fuel industry. That leaves little hope federal authorities will take action on Exxon, said <a href="http://www.shulmanrogers.com/attorneys-Schwartz-Joel-PCAOB-Criminal-White-Collar-Investigations.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;">Joel Schwartz</a>, a former federal prosecutor who worked on the prosecution of the tobacco industry.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"If they don't see climate change as causing a problem then there is no crime to prevent; there is no wrong to right," Schwartz said.  "Under their argument there can be no bad actors—just scientists with honest differences of opinion."</font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"><b>California Reps. Ted Lieu and Mark DeSaulnier were among the first to call for Lynch to open a probe of Exxon. </b>The two Democrats <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16102015/two-us-representatives-seek-justice-department-inquiry-exxon" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;">asked the attorney general</a> to determine whether Exxon had violated federal law by "organizing a sustained deception campaign disputing climate science" and "failing to disclose truthful information" about climate change.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The request came in the wake of an investigative series of<a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/content/Exxon-The-Road-Not-Taken" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;"> stories published by InsideClimate News</a> that reveals Exxon scientists were warning of potentially catastrophic effects of a buildup of atmospheric carbon dioxide from fossil fuels as early as 1977.  (The Los Angeles Times later<a href="https://localhost/about/blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;"> published stories</a> researched by the Columbia School of Journalism.)</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Justice Department confirmed in January that it had referred the request to the FBI for an initial inquiry, but no details were ever disclosed.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In May, Sessions was one of five Republican senators who demanded Lynch halt that preliminary investigation.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"We write today to demand that the Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately cease its ongoing use of law enforcement resources to stifle private debate on one of the most controversial public issues of our time—climate change," according to the letter.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><b style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sessions was joined by Sens. Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, David Perdue and</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> David Vitter</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> in signing the letter that suggested a prosecution of Exxon would amount to prosecutorial misconduct.</span></b></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"As you well know, initiating criminal prosecution for a private entity's opinions on climate change is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and an abuse of power that rises to the level of prosecutorial misconduct," they told Lynch.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/vladeck-david-c.cfm" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;">David Vladeck,</a> a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and former director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission, said the position staked out by Sessions and the others in the letter to Lynch is a signal Exxon will get a free pass at the federal level.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"That means it will be left to the state attorneys general to pick up the cudgel if there is going to be any holding Exxon accountable," he said.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But given Exxon's resources, its powerful allies in Congress and the ferocity it has shown in attacking the investigations being undertaken by New York and Massachusetts, other attorneys general may be reluctant to engage in litigation.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"They may believe it's the right thing to do, but they know they can't sustain the fight they will surely encounter," Vladeck said. "So Exxon...will go on about its business without being held accountable for its conduct."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lieu and DeSaulnier, both Democrats from Southern California, are grudgingly accepting what lies ahead.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"It's not looking very encouraging," DeSaulnier said.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lieu said he hopes the FBI will turn up enough evidence that cannot be ignored, but said, "I am pessimistic about the attorney general's office."</font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Exxon may also find a more agreeable Securities and Exchange Commission under the Trump administration. The SEC reportedly launched an investigation into how Exxon accounts for climate change impacts when it values its assets. Exxon has confirmed the SEC investigation and pledged its cooperation.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>In the wake of the probe, <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/04112016/exxon-tar-sands-reserves-climate-change-oil" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">Exxon announced</a> in October that it was revising the estimated value of its Canadian tar sands reserves to conform to SEC guidelines.</b></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">On Wednesday, Trump announced lawyer Jay Clayton as his choice to replace Mary Jo White as SEC chair.  Clayton has represented a number of Wall Street giants and could be instrumental in helping implement Trump's promise to scale back on financial regulation.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In addition to designating a chair, the new president likely will be making three other appointments this year to the five-member commission.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The commission is designed as a non-partisan body, and no more than three commissioners may belong to the same political party. Appointees are subject to confirmation by the Senate.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Yet Trump will shape the commission with conservative appointees who will be industry-friendly and lenient enforcers of regulatory rules, according to experts.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It's unlikely Trump will appoint commissioners explicitly opposed to investigating Exxon, said<a href="https://content.law.virginia.edu/faculty/profile/anv3de/2384726" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;"> Andrew Vollmer</a>, a law professor at the University of Virginia and former deputy general counsel at the SEC. New Republican commissioners, however, are likely to share the president's ideological policy preferences, he said.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"The kind of people he will pick can influence and affect investigations," Vollmer said. "There is nothing improper about that as long as a commissioner does not have a conflict of interest."</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Trump's appointee to head the SEC, for instance, could instruct the SEC's enforcement division to stop a particular investigation, he said. But that carries the risk of alienating staff and exposing the commission to public criticism, making the power more theoretical than real, he said.</font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Still, he said, "the chair has the power."</font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">If allegations of wrongdoing came from a whistleblower, then the SEC would be mandated to conduct a summary investigation of Exxon,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> according to according to</span><a href="http://www.debevoise.com/bevislongstreth?tab=Biography" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold;"> Bevis Longstreth</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, a former SEC commissioner who was appointed by Ronald Reagan. But even then, it need only be a cursory look to satisfy the statutory requirements that the credibility of whistleblower complaints be weighed, Longstreth said.</span></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"I don't think you can look to the SEC—given what will be its be makeup—to do very much in the way of an Exxon investigation," he said.</font></p></div></div></div></div><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">VITTER LANDS A SIDE HUSTLE:</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">Former Sen.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">David Vitter </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">has a new gig. The Louisiana Republican, who joined</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">Mercury</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">in February after retiring from the Senate, has joined the New Orleans office of the law firm</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">Butler Snow</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">as of counsel. The news was</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/06/06/us/ap-us-vitter-law-firm.html?r=1" target="blank" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box" transition="transition" all="all" s="s" ease="ease" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none" color="color" rgb="rgb">first reported</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">by the</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box"> Associated Press</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">. He will continue to work full-time as a lobbyist in Washington for Mercury, where his clients include</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">Morris & Dickson</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">Cabot Corporation</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">, the</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">Atlantic Development Group</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">, the</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">American Chemistry Council</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box">Morganza Action Coalition</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">and the</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" box-sizing="box-sizing" border-box="border-box"> Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" serif="serif" font-size="font-size" px="px">, according to disclosure records. “This doesn’t change his role or work at Mercury,” a Mercury spokeswoman wrote in an email.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">zak baig staffer epa?</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://books.google.com/books?id=1RsjAQAAQBAJ</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">alamanc of unelected</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">==</font></p><p style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">WASHINGTON —<span class="-newsgate-character-cci-TypographyTag-"> It

took five years and lots of bipartisan wrangling, but Republican Sen.

David Vitter can finally claim victory in his battle to pass landmark

legislation reforming the country’s chemical safety law.</span></font></p><p><span class="-newsgate-character-cci-TypographyTag-"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“It wasn’t easy,” Vitter, R-La., said on the Senate floor recently. “This is long overdue.”</font></span></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The

Senate approved the bill Tuesday night, sending it to President Obama,

who is expected to sign it into law in upcoming weeks.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">With that

victory behind him, Vitter plans to focus on other priorities during his

remaining his six months in the Senate. He will leave office in January

after losing his bid for governor last year to Democrat John Bel

Edwards and deciding not to run for re-election.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Vitter, a lawyer

by training, said he has no definite plans beyond January, but whatever

he does won’t involve elected office. He said he hasn’t talked to

companies or firms yet about possible jobs, but would like to work in

public policy.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“I’m looking forward to being in the private

sector,” Vitter told USA TODAY last month. “I’m not running for

anything. I guess I’m saying never. I looking forward to really a very

new chapter in my career.”</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Vitter basked in the spotlight after

Congress approved the chemical safety bill he crafted with Sen. Tom

Udall, D-N.M</span>. The legislation — the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety

for the 21st Century Act — is named for the late senator from New

Jersey. It overhauls the 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act, which

authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate chemicals in

consumer products.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“It’s been a big accomplishment,” Vitter said.

“This is an area of federal law that everybody, every stakeholder,

every group, whether it’s some far-left environmental group or industry,

said needed to be updated. The trick was getting agreement on doing

that.”</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Even Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, who has clashed

frequently with Vitter on a host of issues, praised his work on the

chemical safety bill.</font></p><p><span class="-newsgate-character-cci-TypographyTag-"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“We’ve

had our differences. We’ve had our fights,” Durbin, a Democratic

leader, said Tuesday before the Senate vote. “I have to say if (the

bill) ends up being approved, it’s quite an accomplishment for him and

for Congress to pass historic legislation.”</font></span></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The chemical

bill will almost certainly be Vitter’s last major accomplishment, said

Joshua Stockley, a political scientist at the University of Louisiana at

Monroe.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“I think he sees this as his legislative swan song, his

last opportunity to both leave the office and his state with something

to talk about or something to kind of cement his legacy,” Stockley said.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Vitter,

a two-term senator, is chairman of the Small Business and

Entrepreneurship Committee. He also serves on the Environment and Public

Works, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Judiciary committees.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Vitter,

55, said constituent services and casework will be a priority during

his remaining months in office. He said his office also is developing a

guidebook for his successor on how to help constituents.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“It really is an important part of the job and it really can make a big difference in people’s lives,” he said.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Vitter

also hopes to help craft a bipartisan water resources bill that

includes flood protection and money for dredging - issues important to

Louisiana</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“We’re trying to get it across the finish line before the end of the year,” he said.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Vitter

did his early work on the chemical safety bill with Lautenberg, a New

Jersey Democrat who died in 2013. Udall stepped in to help finish the

bill.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“He’s been a man of his word,” Udall said of Vitter on the Senate floor Tuesday. “It’s been a pleasure working with him.”</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Other Democrats, however, had little to say about Vitter, who isn’t even popular among members of his own party.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sen.

Barbara Boxer, a liberal from California, has clashed bitterly with him

on environmental issues. In 2013, Vitter angered Boxer by leading a

surprise GOP boycott of a committee vote on Gina McCarthy’s nomination

to head the Environmental Protection Agency.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The two teamed up,

however, on a bipartisan bill to renew the Water Resources Development

Act (WRDA), which authorizes water projects, flood protection and

navigation programs.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Asked about Vitter’s retirement last week, Boxer said only, “I wish him well,” as she walked away.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sen. Corey Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey – Lautenberg’s home state, had even less to say.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“I’m not going to talk about him,” he said with a laugh and walked off.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Stockley

said Vitter’s practice of placing holds on nominations and legislation

has irked both Democrats and other Republicans in the Senate.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“He’s

known more for blocking things to achieve results as opposed to

creating things to achieve results,’ ’ Stockley said. “It would be

naïve, I think, to expect something different in the next six months. He

is who he is.”</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from

Mississippi, pointed to Vitter’s work with Boxer on the WRDA bill, which

he called ‘‘a pretty good act of skillful legislating.”</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Wicker and Vitter served together in the House, where Wicker was deputy whip and Vitter was part of his team.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“He

always has a thoughtful take on complex issues,” Wicker said. “He

doesn’t over-abuse the privilege of chiming in, but when he does speak

up he’s generally making a point that needs to be considered.”</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bill

Cassidy, the junior Republican senator from Louisiana, said Vitter’s

chemical safety bill will have a significant impact in Louisiana. Vitter

campaigned with Cassidy during Cassidy’s successful bid last year to

unseat Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu.</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“The knock on David was

always… ‘Oh my gosh, he can’t get along with anybody,’” said Cassidy.

“He’s collaborating with folks who are from the left of the political

spectrum, getting something that’s very important to workers and very

important to our industry. It’s a good thing - nice way to cap his

career.”</font></p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><i>Contact Deborah Barfield Berry at </i><a href="mailto:dberry@gannett.com" alt="mailto:dberry@gannett.com" title="mailto:dberry@gannett.com"><i>dberry@gannett.com</i></a><i>. </i>

</font><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">

</font></div>

<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">off bs</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/issues/environment"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.vitter.senate.gov/issues/environment</font></a></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 17px 0px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">As a member of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, I work with my colleagues to promote a common-sense and balanced approach to a fact-based energy and infrastructure policy that harnesses the power of America's job creators to grow and maintain a strong economy. My focuses include:</font></p><ul style="padding: 1em 2em; margin: 0px 0px 10px 25px; line-height: 20px;"><li style="line-height: 1.35; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Holding the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and other federal agencies accountable to President Obama’s promise that his Administration would become “the most open and transparent in history”</font></li><li style="line-height: 1.35; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ensuring that federal agencies consider the comprehensive economic cost versus environmental benefit before creating and enacting new rules and regulations that affect businesses, land owners, states, and counties</font></li><li style="line-height: 1.35; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Requesting that future rule-making is based on sound science before implementation</font></li></ul><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 20px;" /><h2 id="latest" style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 34px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">LATEST</font></h2><ul class="feed unstyled" style="padding: 1em 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; list-style: none; line-height: 20px;"><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-statement-on-finalizing-chemical-safety-reform-language" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter Statement on Finalizing Chemical Safety Reform Language</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">(Metairie, La.) - Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter issued the following statement regarding the final language for the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. Vitter is the lead Republican author of the Senate version of the chemical safety reform bill to update the nation’s outdated and broken chemical safety law.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-statement-on-finalizing-chemical-safety-reform-language" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 05/23/16</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-approaching-final-deal-on-chemical-safety-reform" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter: Approaching Final Deal on Chemical Safety Reform</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) today announced that the bipartisan bicameral deal of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is ready to move forward. Vitter is the lead Republican author of the Senate version of the chemical safety reform bill to update the nation’s outdated and broken chemical safety law.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-approaching-final-deal-on-chemical-safety-reform" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 05/19/16</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-passes-historic-bipartisan-chemical-safety-reform" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter Passes Historic Bipartisan Chemical Safety Reform</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced that the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act passed in the U.S. Senate via voice vote.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-passes-historic-bipartisan-chemical-safety-reform" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 12/17/15</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-votes-to-keep-obama-epa-out-of-our-backyards" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter Votes to Keep Obama EPA Out Of Our Backyards</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding his vote to overturn the Obama Administration’s controversial “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule. As a senior member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Vitter has been fighting the implementation of the controversial “WOTUS” rule.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-votes-to-keep-obama-epa-out-of-our-backyards" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 11/03/15</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-udall-inhofe-bonnie-lautenberg-urge-passage-of-historic-bipartisan-chemical-safety-reform-legislation" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter, Udall, Inhofe, Bonnie Lautenberg Urge Passage of Historic Bipartisan Chemical Safety Reform Legislation</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">(Washington, D.C.) - In a press conference today, U.S. Sens. David Vitter (R-La.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.), along with Bonnie Lautenberg, widow of former Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and supporters of chemical safety reform urged the Senate to act to pass a historic bill to reform the broken Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA).</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-udall-inhofe-bonnie-lautenberg-urge-passage-of-historic-bipartisan-chemical-safety-reform-legislation" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 10/06/15</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/article/icymi-estuary-program-is-a-boon-for-our-region-houma-courier" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">ICYMI: Estuary program is a boon for our region (Houma Courier)</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">On August 6, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators David Vitter (R-La.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to reauthorize the National Estuary Program (NEP). Areas benefitting from the reauthorization include the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) which encompasses 4.2 million acres of wetlands between the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River Basins in southeast Louisiana.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/article/icymi-estuary-program-is-a-boon-for-our-region-houma-courier" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 08/12/15</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/us-senate-approves-bipartisan-whitehouse-vitter-estuary-legislation" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">U.S. Senate Approves Bipartisan Whitehouse-Vitter Estuary Legislation</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">(Washington, D.C.) - The U.S. Senate unanimously approved bipartisan legislation authored by Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to reauthorize the National Estuary Program (NEP). The program was first established in 1987 to protect and restore estuarine habitats threatened by pollution and overdevelopment. Authorization for this important program expired in 2010.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/us-senate-approves-bipartisan-whitehouse-vitter-estuary-legislation" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 08/06/15</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-statement-on-obama-epas-massive-carbon-emission-rule" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter Statement on Obama EPA’s Massive Carbon Emission Rule</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">( U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today made the following statement regarding President Obama’s announcement of a controversial carbon emission rule that would affect existing, modified and reconstructed, and new power plants and electricity supply across the country.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-statement-on-obama-epas-massive-carbon-emission-rule" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 08/03/15</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-bicameral-colleagues-urge-thorough-review-of-epas-carbon-rule-rule-making-process" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter, Bicameral Colleagues Urge Thorough Review of EPA’s Carbon Rule, Rule-Making Process</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">( Today Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), along with 17 other Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, sent a letter to Howard Shelanski, Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants under the Clean Air Act (CAA).</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-bicameral-colleagues-urge-thorough-review-of-epas-carbon-rule-rule-making-process" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 07/22/15</font></time><hr style="margin: 20px 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border: none; text-align: left;"><article><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 28px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-scotus-confirms-epas-cost-benefit-analysis-failures-during-rulemaking-process" style="text-decoration: none; border: none;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter: SCOTUS Confirms EPA’s Cost-Benefit Analysis Failures During Rulemaking Process</font></a></h2><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">( Senator David Vitter (R-La.) made the following statement regarding today’s Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to calculate and use a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of its 2012 mercury rule for existing coal-fired power plants.</font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"> <a href="https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-scotus-confirms-epas-cost-benefit-analysis-failures-during-rulemaking-process" style="text-decoration: none; border-bottom-style: none;">Read More</a></font><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.35; padding: 0px 0px 17px;" /><div><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Posted on 06/29/15</font></time></div></article></li><li class="news" style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; border: none; text-align: left;"><time style="line-height: 1.35; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></time></li></ul></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" /><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">vitter2</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div>
</div><div>webbrain server fail 7/19</div><div>
</div><div>LAMAR SMITH takes over the attacks on NGO's, sci academics</div><div>
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</div><div>vitter ASKS Caldwell to join 13 AG, but he loses job? Taken out by landry (TP?) adds F&W (werlamds LA?</div><div>
</div><div>Fischer, Vitter: EPA Giving out Personal Information of Private Citizens to Environmental Groups</div><div>Senators ask EPA for answers regarding the agency’s blatant disregard for personal privacy concerns of small businesses, farmers, and ranchers through the misapplication of FOIA</div><div>
</div><div>Thursday, April 4, 2013</div><div>(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, along with committee members Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) today wrote to Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) questioning the agency’s decision to release personal and confidential business information related to recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from environmental groups.</div><div>“In releasing the personal and confidential information of private citizens and business owners, EPA has shown no regard for their privacy and safety,” said the Senators in a letter. “Conversely, EPA has recently used FOIA exemptions in an overbroad manner with respect to agency information, undermining FOIA’s purpose by preventing the public from learning what EPA is up to. EPA’s current application of FOIA represents the antithesis of a transparent government and an offensive abuse of agency discretion.”</div><div>In response to a FOIA request for information related to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from environmental groups, EPA released comprehensive data providing the precise locations of CAFOs, the animal type and number of head, as well as the personal contact information, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of CAFO owners. Previously, the Department of Homeland Security had informed EPA that the release of such information could constitute a domestic security risk. In contrast, EPA has refused to disclose information relating to internal agency actions and emails, even when such disclosure is the intent of FOIA.</div><div>See below to read the Senators’ letter.</div><div>
</div><div>April 4, 2013</div><div>The Honorable Bob Perciasepe</div><div>Acting Administrator</div><div>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</div><div>1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW</div><div>Washington, D.C. 20460</div><div>
</div><div>Dear Acting Administrator Perciasepe:</div><div>We write to express concern and seek further information regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent release of personal and confidential business information relating to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to environmental groups in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. This action demonstrates a troubling disregard for the interests of both private citizens and competitive businesses. We understand that you are currently investigating the propriety of the FOIA releases and whether the releases contain sensitive information not already publicly available. EPA claims that the recipients of the information have agreed not to disseminate the data EPA provided to them. Since the information has already been released, EPA’s assertion that the groups will not distribute the information is hardly reassuring. As such, the lack of appropriate safeguards within EPA’s FOIA office requires your immediate attention.</div><div>As you are aware, FOIA’s purpose is to provide the public with a means to access government information. The statute essentially enables people to learn “‘what their government is up to.’” FOIA is not, however, a mechanism by which private citizens or organizations may obtain personal information of other private citizens, or confidential business information.</div><div>
</div><div>EPA’s recent and overbroad application of FOIA exemptions with respect to agency information undermines FOIA’s purpose by preventing the public from learning what the agency is up to. Conversely, in releasing the personal and confidential information of CAFO owners, EPA has shown no regard for the privacy and safety of private citizens, and businesses. EPA’s current application of FOIA thus represents the antithesis of a transparent government and an offensive abuse of agency discretion.</div><div>
</div><div>Pursuant to its long term effort to regulate CAFOs, EPA proposed a rule (CAFO Reporting Rule) in October 2011 that would have required CAFO owners to submit information on their operations, including location and contact information. EPA withdrew this rule in July 2012 and instead began working with states to gather the data. In October 2012, three environmental groups submitted FOIA requests to EPA requesting information relating to CAFOs. In response, the EPA released to these three groups the information EPA had gathered from more than 30 state permitting authorities. However, not all of the information provided to EPA should have been released in such a careless fashion. The comprehensive data released provides the precise locations of CAFOs, the animal type and number of head, as well as the personal contact information, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of CAFO owners. The Department of Homeland Security had previously informed EPA that the release of such information could constitute a domestic security risk. EPA’s disregard for the implications of the release of this information is alarming.</div><div>FOIA provides nine exemptions designed to protect the disclosure of certain information. Exemption 4 shields the disclosure of information related to the proprietary interests of business, and exemption 6 safeguards the privacy interests of individuals. In this instance, EPA’s release of the geographical location and the animal specifications of CAFOs falls within the broad definition of business information and should have been withheld. Moreover, EPA’s release of the CAFO owners’ personal contact information could result in serious and unacceptable risks for farmers, ranchers, and their families – a risk exemption 6 was designed to avoid.</div><div>In an attempt to calm the fears of the individuals affected, EPA has reported that the three environmental groups who currently have possession of this information have agreed not to disseminate the data. This assurance is hollow. As the Supreme Court of the United States confirmed in Favish, and as EPA is aware, “release to one is release to all.” Accordingly, EPA has no ability to ensure that this information will be kept private, and, moreover, private requestors cannot legally withhold the information. Since the very purpose of FOIA is to provide information about the government for public dissemination, an agency cannot control what an individual or organization does with information procured through a FOIA request. As such, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is disappointed that EPA sought to downplay the seriousness of their mistake by inaccurately claiming that the information released will remain private.</div><div>EPA has stated that the agency plans to do an investigation to ensure that any legitimate privacy concerns are addressed. While we support this initiative, we request that you brief the Committee staff on the status of your investigation by no later than April 18, 2013.</div><div>Additionally, we request that you respond to the following questions and requests no later than April 18, 2013:</div><div>1. Please detail the steps EPA is taking to investigate this privacy breach.</div><div>2. Who at EPA is in charge of the investigation?</div><div>3. Is the agency examining possible conflicts of interest or inappropriate relationships between EPA employees and groups requesting the information, in particular regarding Nancy Stoner and/or her staff?</div><div>4. Who was responsible for processing and executing the above mentioned FOIA requests?</div><div>5. What was the purpose of compiling the information released? How does the agency plan to use it? Does EPA intend to develop a national database of CAFOs? If so, will the database include information about producers and facilities not subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act?</div><div>6. How much time, money, and staff did EPA dedicate to bundling the information distributed pursuant to the above mentioned FOIA requests?</div><div>7. Please provide all documents referring or relating to the CAFO FOIA requests from Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Pew Charitable Trusts, including any emails sent or received on personal or private accounts.</div><div>8. For each state from which EPA sought to obtain information on livestock agriculture, please provide copies of all written, electronic, or other communications between EPA, its agents and partners, and the individual states from which EPA collected information on livestock facilities. In particular, this includes but is not limited to copies of all emails or other written communication with the individual states describing the types of information and the public nature of that information, which EPA sought. In addition, please provide copies of any written correspondence received from the states, including cover letters or other electronic or written communications transmitting the information. If no written records exist to memorialize the request or the response received from the states, please indicate why, and provide specific details on the state officials with whom communications were made, their authority to release records, and the general custodial chain of records that describes how EPA obtained each state’s data.</div><div>9. If a party other than EPA’s Office of Water obtained the information, please include that information and all correspondence between the states and that third party, including but not limited to EPA Regional Offices, the Association of Clean Water Administrators, or third-party contractors, such as Tetra Tech. Please also include copies of all communications between these third parties and EPA.</div><div>Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have questions regarding this request, please contact the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works at (202) 224-6176.</div><div>
</div><div>Sincerely,</div><div>Deb Fischer</div><div>U.S. Senator</div><div>
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</div><div>foia srch 1</div><div>
</div><div>Vitter Presses CFPB Cordray on Conflict of Interest, Questionable Ethics in “Payday Rule” Construction</div><div>(04/14/2016)</div><div>... Covered Relationships and Financial Interests ethics review document, which</div><div>CFPB failed to include in response to a 2015 FOIA request from ...</div><div>Vitter: EPA’s Lowered Ozone Standard Moves The Goal Posts For Majority of the U.S.</div><div>(10/01/2015)</div><div>Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content: ...</div><div>Vitter: Obama Administration’s Efforts to Shut Out Oversight of Sec. Clinton’s Emails</div><div>(08/25/2015)</div><div>... continue to deny the classified character of the released information despite</div><div>a definitive determination from the IC interagency FOIA process.”. ...</div><div>Vitter to Lynch: Would You Investigate Clinton Email Cover-Up?</div><div>(04/02/2015)</div><div>... Furthermore, in response this week to a FOIA request from the Associated</div><div>Press, the State Department said that it can only find four emails sent ...</div><div>Vitter Shares Concerns Over Economically Devastating EPA Ozone Rule</div><div>(03/19/2015)</div><div>Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content: ...</div><div>Vitter: Did Hillary Clinton Delete Boko Haram Emails?</div><div>(03/18/2015)</div><div>... The purpose of the law is to ensure that agency activities are available to be</div><div>reviewed when needed -- such as for FOIA requests or congressional ...</div><div>FLASHBACK: Hillary Clinton’s Email Problems Reminiscent of “Richard Windsor”</div><div>(03/03/2015)</div><div>... solely on official government email accounts and that the Agency would respond</div><div>in full to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and ...</div><div>Vitter Launches Investigation into Washington’s Obamacare Exemption</div><div>(02/04/2015)</div><div>... as a small business, the heavily redacted applications that were obtained</div><div>through Judicial Watch's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, show ...</div><div>Vitter Gets Key Reforms at EPA as Top Republican on Senate Environment Committee</div><div>(12/18/2014)</div><div>... by EPA to mandate the re-training of the 17,000+ EPA workforce in proper</div><div>protocols involving Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, as well ...</div><div>ICYMI: Politico writes</div><div>(07/11/2013)</div><div>... The agency earlier launched an inspector general investigation into allegations</div><div>of ideological bias in its FOIA system and has agreed to comply ...</div><div>Vitter, EPW Republicans Get Major Agreements from EPA on 5 Transparency Requests</div><div>(07/09/2013)</div><div>... The EPA has committed to the following: • FOIA – the EPA agreed to mandate</div><div>the re-training of the 17,000+ EPA workforce as well committing to ...</div><div>Fischer, Vitter: EPA Giving out Personal Information of Private Citizens to Environmental Groups</div><div>(04/04/2013)</div><div>... the agency's blatant disregard for personal privacy concerns of small</div><div>businesses, farmers, and ranchers through the misapplication of FOIA. ...</div><div>ICYMI: Clearing the Air on an Opaque EPA (U.S. News & World Report)</div><div>(03/13/2013)</div><div>... FOIA was passed into law in 1966 for a very simple purpose: to direct</div><div>sunshine onto the federal government. Under Jackson's ...</div><div>ICYMI: Vitter blasts EPA over new emails from former regional chief (Politico)</div><div>(03/11/2013)</div><div>... “Once it was determined that there were emails outside of EPA's email system</div><div>that were responsive to a FOIA request, EPA directed Mr. Martin to ...</div><div>Vitter, Inhofe Ask EPA Acting Administrator for Increased Transparency and Accountability</div><div>(02/26/2013)</div><div>... to conduct government business will likely engender challenges to compliance</div><div>with the Freedom of Information Act[3] (FOIA), litigation requests ...</div><div>
</div><div></div><div>pg 2</div><div>
</div><div>ICYMI:<b> EPA's Secret And Costly 'Sue And Settle' Collusion With Environmental Organizations (Forbes)</b></div><div>(02/19/2013)</div><div>... asked his Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to join with AGs of 13</div><div>other states who filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with ...</div><div>Vitter: New Richard Windsor Emails Show EPA’s Transparency Problem More Widespread</div><div>(02/19/2013)</div><div>... a lot of information in these emails that warrant further investigations, but it</div><div>is clear that EPA continues to abuse exemptions under FOIA law with ...</div><div>Vitter: A Carbon Tax Will Skyrocket Price of Everything</div><div>(02/14/2013)</div><div>... involvement in proposing a “carbon tax.” A release of Treasury's emails has</div><div>been requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by the ...</div><div>Vitter, Issa & Smith Expose EPA’s Attempt to Hide Emails, Call for Further Investigation</div><div>(02/07/2013)</div><div>... that the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is inappropriately using</div><div>an exemption clause in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in an ...</div><div>ICYMI: U.S. Treasury Denies Complete FOIA Request on Carbon Tax</div><div>(02/06/2013)</div><div>... ICYMI: US Treasury Denies Complete FOIA Request on Carbon Tax. ... US</div><div>Treasury Denies Complete FOIA Request on Carbon Tax. ...</div><div>Vitter Warns Louisiana of EPA’s Secret “Sue and Settle” Deals, Could Impact State</div><div>(01/22/2013)</div><div>... Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to join the 13 states' AGs who</div><div>recently filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with EPA ...</div><div>Sen. Vitter, Rep. Pompeo to Introduce Concurrent Resolution Opposing “Carbon Tax”</div><div>(11/29/2012)</div><div>... involvement in proposing a “carbon tax.” A release of Treasury's emails has</div><div>been requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by the ...</div><div>Vitter Pushes Treasury for Transparency with Carbon Tax E-Mails</div><div>(11/20/2012)</div><div>... involvement in proposing a “carbon tax.” A release of Treasury's emails has</div><div>been requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by the ...</div><div>=</div><div>https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-one-year-anniversary-of-iran-manipulation-of-president-obama</div><div></div></div>

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<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">bit of plagiarim? by larry bell forbes</font>

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<font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span style=" line-height: 22.4px;">https://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-warns-louisiana-of-epas-secret-sue-and-settle-deals-could-impact-state</span></font></p>

<h1 class="entry-title" style=" margin: 0px; line-height: 55px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; padding: 4px 0px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter Warns Louisiana of EPA’s Secret “Sue and Settle” Deals, Could Impact State</font></h1>

<h2 class="lead" style=" margin: 10px 0px 0px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 34px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; letter-spacing: -1px; opacity: 0.9;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Says EPA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are colluding with environmental groups</font></h2>

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<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is warning of more secret “sue and settle” deals with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and environmental groups. In a letter today,<span style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> Vitter encourages Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to join the 13 states’ AGs who recently filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with EPA asking for any and all correspondence between EPA and a list of 80 environmental, labor union and public interest organizations that had been party to litigation since the start of the Obama Administration. </span></font>

<font style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" face="Times New Roman" size="4">“The collusion between federal bureaucrats and far-left environmental organizations entering legal agreements under a shroud of secrecy is the opposite of a transparent government,” Vitter said. “This is a problem across the country, but could quickly become a threat to Louisianans if we see the full weight of the EPA and <b>Fish and Wildlife Service come crashing down on private landowners.”</b></font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vitter is encouraging Caldwell to join the other states’ AGs, and is also encouraging the inclusion of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their investigation. The Fish and Wildlife Service was not included in the original FOIA request. In his letter, Vitter also highlights a specific recent example where the <span style=" background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Fish and Wildlife Service entered an agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity that could impact private property owners across the South and in Louisiana with new rules on habitat for endangered species on private property because private property owners will have few resources to fight any legal challenge of a massive federal agency.</span></font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">A copy of Vitter’s letter is below.</font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>January 22, 2013</b></font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">James D. “Buddy” Caldwell

Attorney General

State of Louisiana

1885 N. Third Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70802</font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Dear A.G. Buddy Caldwell:</font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">            I write asking your personal assistance regarding a matter imperative to Louisiana’s economy and private property owners across our great state.   My concern stems from the non-transparent nature of litigation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and specifically the entering of consent decrees through a practice referred to as “sue and settle,” and sometimes referred to as “friendly lawsuits.”  </font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Under this practice, radical environmental groups file lawsuits against a federal agency in a friendly court demanding the agency take action.  Rather than allowing the entire process to play out, the Department of Justice and the agency being sued settles the lawsuit by agreeing to move forward with the requested action.  While the environmental group is given a seat at the negotiating table, private property owners and other affected residents are not given the opportunity to object to these settlements. </font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>On August 10, 2012 thirteen state Attorney Generals filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with EPA asking for any and all correspondence between EPA and a list of 80 environmental, labor union and public interest organizations that had been party to litigation since the start of the Obama administration</b>.  My specific request is that you intervene in these efforts and <b>expand the investigation beyond the EPA to include the USFWS. </b> The collusion between federal bureaucrats and the organizations entering consent agreements under a shroud of secrecy represents the antithesis of a transparent government, and your participation in the FOIA request will help Louisianans understand the process by which these settlements were reached.  </font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Using these “sue and settle” agreements, a significant portion of regulatory policy is being fashioned behind closed doors with groups that are clearly antagonistic to the economic health of the United States and Louisiana.  This regulatory policy is having a significant, negative impact on states and private property owners.  A specific recent example involves the settlement agreement between the USFWS and the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group who has made clear its goal is to use the litigation process to force species listings.  The agreement to make listing determinations on hundreds of species will adversely impact private property owners across the South and the state of Louisiana with new rules on habitat for endangered species on private property.  Unfortunately, most private property owners will not have the resources to fight the legal and regulatory onslaught of a massive federal agency.</font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">            <b>As the new ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I plan to investigate  this “sue and settle” practice using all available tools to bring to light this often abused path to regulatory influence.</b>  Private interest groups using lawsuits that are settled in secret, with minimal to no input from the regulated community, small businesses and private property owners should no longer go on without oversight.</font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">            As the AG, your intervention and requested expansion of the FOIA request can help to investigate and shed light on what our federal agencies are doing to undermine Louisiana and the people of our great state.  I am warily confident that both EPA and USFWS will shun all efforts to open the doors on these practices, the negotiations, and the communications between agency staff and outside groups regarding “sue and settle” agreements.  However, I request that you stay vigilant and join the consorted effort of the 13 other state AGs working to make public the collusion between our federal government and certain interest groups.</font>

<font face="Times New Roman" size="4">            If I can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me directly.</font>

                                                Sincerely,</font>

                                                David Vitter

                                                Ranking Member

                                                U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works</font></p>

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