On Tuesday, President Barack Obama announced that he intends to appoint Ignacia Moreno to head up the Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division... you know, the division responsible for enforcing the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Superfund.
That division.
Now, Ms. Moreno is a woman, and is Hispanic.
So naturally, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) applauds President Obama's decision to nominate Ms. Moreno.
Other than corporations that find laws protecting the environment an annoying waste of money and time, the HNBA may be the only ones cheering.
Ms. Moreno has, for most of her career, focused on the environment alright. Defending those who pollute.
WTF?
Update (further thoughts):
Yesterday, GE began clean up of the PCB's in the Hudson River, in a settlement that Moreno helped negotiate. Since rumor has it GE is planning to fight the next stage of the cleanup, maybe Obama's plan is to take Moreno out of the game.
She'd have to recuse herself in the GE case, due to an obvious conflict of interest.
In fact, she'd have to recuse herself from every major case where her firm represented the polluter... so her "un-involvement" as a litigator might actually be beneficial to the DOJ's prosecution.
That division.
Now, Ms. Moreno is a woman, and is Hispanic.
So naturally, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) applauds President Obama's decision to nominate Ms. Moreno.
Other than corporations that find laws protecting the environment an annoying waste of money and time, the HNBA may be the only ones cheering.
Ms. Moreno has, for most of her career, focused on the environment alright. Defending those who pollute.
WTF?
In an unrelated story, President Obama announced this morning that he has appointed a fox with many years of experience in the poultry business to guard the henhouse.h/t to Think Progress
Film at 11:00.
Update (further thoughts):
Yesterday, GE began clean up of the PCB's in the Hudson River, in a settlement that Moreno helped negotiate. Since rumor has it GE is planning to fight the next stage of the cleanup, maybe Obama's plan is to take Moreno out of the game.
She'd have to recuse herself in the GE case, due to an obvious conflict of interest.
In fact, she'd have to recuse herself from every major case where her firm represented the polluter... so her "un-involvement" as a litigator might actually be beneficial to the DOJ's prosecution.
It begs the question, though:
Why would Moreno accept the job (and a major pay cut), if the DOJ gig would be little more than titular?
The mind is boggled.