Letter to Senator Young on Pruitt vote to head EPA

It's been well over a year since I posted here, but I wanted to share the letter I e-mailed to Senator Todd Young regarding the vote of he and fellow Republican senators (and a couple Democrats) to confirm Scott Pruitt as the head of the EPA. Pruitt is a man who despises the EPA and has opposed them at every turn. Young and other senators have truly let the fox into the hen house and they know it. It's absolutely shameful and a disaster for the environment. These senators only care what a handful of big polluters with deep pockets want.

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Dear Senator Young,

I am writing in regard to the vote to confirm Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. In confirming Mr. Pruitt, you and almost all the other Senate Republicans have chosen a man who has spent many years opposing the EPA at every turn on behalf of his friends in the fossil fuel industry. He even tried to block mercury and ozone protections, two of the most dangerous pollutants in the country. In another lawsuit, he sued on behalf of an oil company to prevent enforcement of the Endangered Species Act. Mr. Pruitt has sided with polluters against protecting the environment again and again.  He despises the EPA and choosing him to lead it is inexcusable, appalling, and frankly immoral. As Mr Pruitt's views have been abundantly clear for a long time, I must conclude that you share those views.

Public opposition to Mr. Pruitt was unprecedented, and the public overwhelmingly supports a strong EPA. EPA officials know he's a terrible pick, and that's why over 750 former officials openly opposed his confirmation. You showed that you didn't care at all what the public thinks. Between this vote and the vote to repeal protections for our waterways from mountaintop removal coal mining waste, you have shown where your loyalties lie and it's not with average Americans, but with a handful of wealthy people who benefit when they can trash the environment for profit. You have chosen the greed of a few over the health and well-being of the many and over the long term health of the environment we all share. You should be ashamed.

In confirming Scott Pruit  to lead the EPA, a man who opposes the fundamental mission of this vital agency, you have in effect declared war on the EPA. Those of us who care about the environment, who understand that sensibly protecting it IS putting people first, must respond. We need leaders who will work on our behalf, not work to make the dreams of the worst polluters in the country come true. We deserve to be represented by leaders who put the people and the planet ahead of corporate pay masters. You are apparently not that kind of leader.

I'm only one person, but  I'm politically active on the issues I care about and unless there are big changes in your stance on environmental issues in the next few years, I will do my part to oppose your re-election.