In another move that shows its political philosophy has more to do with whatever powerful interests want, rather than long-standing conservative principles, Bush EPA administrator Stephen Johnson denied Clean Air Act waivers that would have allowed California and 16 other states to impose PIRG-backed stricter clean cars global warming standards. From the story E.P.A. Says 17 States Can't Set Emission Rules by John Broder and Felicity Barringer in the New York Times:

The E.P.A. administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, said the proposed California rules were pre-empted by federal authority and made moot by the energy bill signed into law by President Bush on Wednesday. Mr. Johnson said California had failed to make a compelling case that it needed authority to write its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks to help curb global warming.