EPA Hails Big Victory At Supreme Court

Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator with the Environmental Protection Agency, speaks at a climate workshop sponsored by The Climate Center at Georgetown University, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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It’s not every day that environmentalists notch up a victory in the modern Supreme Court, but that’s what happened Tuesday in a 6-2 decision upholding the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to crack down on coal pollution that moves across state lines.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a resounding victory for public health and a key component of EPA’s efforts to make sure all Americans have clean air to breathe,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a statement. “It serves to support the ongoing work to see that air quality in downwind states continues to improve. The Court’s finding also underscores the importance of basing the agency’s efforts on strong legal foundations and sound science. This is a big win for the nation’s public health and a proud day for the agency.”

The majority decision was written by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The two dissenting justices were Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the case.

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  1. The two dissenting justices were Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia

    But not in that order.

    Thomas: Pssssttttt… How’d you vote on this?

    Scalia: Against.

    Thomas: Thanks.

  2. Sheesh, is there no cause in American history that could be identified in any way as “liberal” that Scalia and Thomas wouldn’t vote against in knee jerk fashion?!?

  3. Avatar for pac pac says:

    That’s why they need to “save all those babies”, so they can breathe in that fresh, coal air.

  4. This is the same Supreme Court, more or less, that upheld the EPA’s regulation of greenhouse gasses.

    They haven’t been so terrible on the environment. Or maybe their record in that field just looks good in comparison with, say, voting rights.

  5. Despite Scalia and his sidekick Silent Thomas the EPA prevailed on this one. YES!

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