PA Rep Votes To Slash Funding For EPA, Then Wonders Why They're Not Doing Their Job

In an ironic twist and general WTF moment, EPA naysayer Rep. Lou Barletta says he wishes the Environmental Protection Agency would do more to protect the health of his constituents.  This, of course, follows his retaliatory vote to defund the EPA in retribution for its efforts to regulate greenhouse emissions.  

In a move unpopular with his own district, Barletta (R-PA) voted to gut the budget of the Agency in order to protect American business from regulation.  Then, oddly enough, a constituent of his blamed a Superfund site for giving him cancer.  The EPA held a town-hall meeting on the subject, then decided to forgo testing at the site.  Barletta was outraged.

"On Wednesday, Barletta sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson asking the agency to perform additional testing in the Carroll/Mill Street neighborhood.[...]'Frankly, this is unacceptable. The EPA’s own Web site indicates that one of the agency’s primary reasons for existence is to ensure that "all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live, learn and work."'[...]

"'I was surprised to hear an EPA official basically tell the residents of the Carroll/Mill neighborhood that they would not conduct soil and water testing to find answers. It is absolutely the EPA’s job, and I’m going to make sure that job is done. The residents are scared, and they deserve answers and peace of mind.'"

How the hell are you going to vote to destroy an agency and then complain that they should do more?  Asshat.

[ThinkProgress]