Is the EPA Really This Gullible?

A feather-duster attached to a space heater covertly submitted by GAO investigators as a “Room Air Cleaner” had an “Energy Star” designation approved by the EPA. Issa and Barrasso Ask EPA to Account for Outrageous “Energy Star” Approvals; Ask How EPA Will Catch Fraud in a Carbon Offset Program WASHINGTON D.C. – House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Darrell Issa and Senate Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Oversight Ranking Member John Barrasso today asked Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson to account for outrageous failings of the Energy Star Program discovered by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

“The GAO found that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administered Energy Star program was extremely vulnerable to fraud and abuse,” the lawmakers wrote to Jackson. “EPA’s apparent failure with a program designed to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is alarming and it has put multiple millions of taxpayer dollars in serious jeopardy. Moreover, it calls into question EPA’s ability to take on the larger responsibility of overseeing the integrity of future greenhouse gas reduction efforts.”

“If EPA can be punked with a space heater and feather duster, how does it expect to police carbon-offsets under cap-and-trade?” asked Rep. Issa. “Expanding EPA’s responsibilities under cap-and-trade will lead to massive fraud, kill American jobs, and devastate our economy.”

According to Senator Barrasso, “Once again, independent federal watchdogs have discovered more waste and abuse at the EPA. The recent GAO report makes the Energy Star Program seem like an Energy Fraud Program. If the EPA can’t effectively manage the Energy Star Program, how will the agency be able to successfully implement a complicated cap and trade program? Our letter today calls upon the EPA to clearly explain its inability to protect American taxpayer dollars. We need more jobs in this country – not more government waste and inefficient bureaucracies.”

The Energy Star program was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992, under the authority of the Clean Air Act, as a voluntary labeling program designed to promote energy efficient computers and monitors. Through expansions the label is now found on over 60 product categories including residential heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment, major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, new homes, and commercial and industrial buildings, with a reported energy-efficiency savings of up to 10 to 25 percent over the minimum federal standards. GAO tested the program for susceptibility to fraud by submitting qualified product information (QPI) forms and efficiency information via the Online Product Submittal (OPS) tool for 20 bogus products. Of the products submitted, 15 (including the “Air Room Cleaner”) were approved, 2 were denied Energy Star qualification, and 3 products were voluntarily removed by GAO because it had not received an official qualification determination by the time our investigation was completed.

the letter Rep. Issa and Sen. Barrasso sent to Administrator Jackson in PDF format.

GAO Energy Star report in PDF format.

Michael Giuliano Announces Campaign New York 28th District

EAST ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, April 29, 2010, Rochester area native and attorney editor Michael Giuliano announced himself as a Republican candidate for Congress in New York's 28th District before a gathering of Monroe County Republican elected officials, candidates and other party members at an East Rochester GOP "Victory Dinner." The 28th District is currently represented by Louise Slaughter. The campaign has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission.

"I will be a voice for freedom and constitutional government when elected," said Giuliano in a statement following the announcement. "Rochester and Buffalo residents will have a representative who fights for their liberties and for policies that make Western New York attractive for small businesses. We should not have a tax system that rewards the offshoring of jobs. We do not need any more 'Slaughter Solutions' or general disregard for Constitutional limits on government by entrenched politicians who have been in office since the Watergate era. We need a restoration of individual freedom and an end to President Obama's bankrupting and endless Middle East conflicts that he vowed to bring to a close. I will respect the limits upon Congressional power and, unlike the incumbent, I will also respect my neighbors and voters."

High-Speed Railroad to Nowhere

"'Real Tax Freedom Day,' as determined by the Tax Foundation, does not arrive until May 17 this year as Americans are saddled with a tax and federal budget deficit burden that will eat up nearly five months of their work for the year, a major financial peril threatening the economy and the dollar. Congresswoman Slaughter, in response to the crisis, proposes more vote-buying pork-barrel spending schemes including $151 Million for exactly eleven miles of high-speed rail track between Chili and Bergen, New York. We all remember the taxpayer rip-off that was to allow Rochestarians to enjoy 'fast ferry' service to Toronto," said campaign director Jamie Heaton. "Now we will have a high speed 'railroad to nowhere.' None of this waste, of course, has any effect on the 24-year incumbent's lavish salary and benefit package. Mike is running to be a citizen servant. He will not accept the full Congressional salary and pension, and he is not running to have buildings named after him at local colleges by way of redistributing taxpayer funds to special interests."

"The contrast between the two candidates could not be much greater. Louise Slaughter may believe that concerns regarding her 'dignity' prevent her from meeting with area residents who disagree with her, and whom she has contemptuously referred to as 'those people,' but with Mike, they will have a Congressman who will meet with constituents and believes in our constitutional liberties and protections," said Heaton.

More information can be found at www.GiulianoForCongress.US

CONTACT: Jamie Heaton Campaign Director Phone: 585-794-2177
E-mail: michael@giulianoforcongress.us