NJ paper editorial gets it right on GOP and the environment

Great - I repeat, great - editorial on the GOP (that's those darned Republicans) and how they are ridiculous with respect to the environment, from the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Let me rephrase that.  They are complete a**holes with respect to the environment.

House GOP takes our environment hostage:  Editorial

Excerpting:

Our deficit is already on a steep decline, yet House Republicans are gleefully pushing massive new cuts on the social, regulatory and environmental programs that make up a relatively small sliver of our federal budget. ...

As a result, EPA staffing would shrink to the levels of the early 1990s, hobbling the agency’s ability to enforce the laws and update standards against pollution. In New Jersey, this cut would choke off the flow of federal money that supports upgrades to our antiquated sewer systems by as much as 80 percent, and our drinking water infrastructure by 60 percent, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. ...

That’s not all. Republicans also threw in some dirty policies: They blocked the EPA from enforcing the rules on lead paint, or doing virtually anything on climate change, including setting new controls on carbon emissions from power plants. ...

And now, the short paragraph that absolutely NAILS it:

The environment was once a bipartisan issue, but these extremists who’ve hijacked the House have a blind spot when it comes to setting basic standards to protect people from air and water pollution and toxic chemicals. They view this as wasteful, rather than necessary spending.

So, so, so, so, exactly right.