David Vitter's Obstruction Exposes Dirty Relationship With Formaldehyde Industry

Mother Jones:

In May, President Obama nominated a renowned scientist known as the "father of green chemistry" to head the EPA's Office of Research and Development. For an administration that supports ambitious climate change legislation and stresses the importance of sustainability, the nomination of Paul Anastas, director of Yale's Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering and a former White House environment director, was very much in keeping with its broader agenda. Anastas' nomination was unanimously approved in committee in July, and his confirmation seemed all but assured. Yet six months later Anastas still isn't confirmed. Standing in his way is Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), whose block on Anastas' nomination raises questions about Vitter's close ties to the formaldehyde industry.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[Carl Caroli]

Vitter, like so many, is a political prostitute, taking money and doing the donors bidding. The folks need to be purged from government.

[timberdoodle]

The past few months have brought out the worst in American politics. The American people, their health, their lives and their financial well being mean absolutely nothing to their government.

If an ordinary citizen conducted themselves in a manner that endangered the lives of other citizens they would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Why do people want to stay in a Country without any compassion or sense of integrity?

[Nonamnesiac]

"Holds", "60 vote Senate requirements to pass legislation" are all untrue. They are not required by the Consitution or by law. They are there to stop popular legislation that might seriously impact campaign funding industries from being forced to act legally and be properly regulated (as opposed to fig leaf regulation with minimal fines after years that are a small fraction of the violation committed that caused the fine.)

The Democrats could end "holds" and the "60 vote" requirement any time they feel like it, just as the Republicans threatened to do under Bush (forcing the Dems to cave on filibusters and other anti-working family legislation). The Dems have the votes now to make the Senate, already an undemocratic institution that awards two Senators to each state, whether the state has 500,000 residents or 20,000,000 residents, democratic by ending the filibuster or limiting it so that single-payer health care could pass and by eliminating the "hold".

So HuffPo and the rest of the progressive media should attack these anti-democratic, rules that have no legal basis and stop acting as if Congress is bound by them.

[BambooHarvester]

Dirty DlAPER !
~

[Tuleema77]

There isn't a scruple to be found in the GOP any more...

[Shadow10]

Co-sign.

[gangwayjan]

My dad, who worked with formaldehyde his entire career at a medical school, died of a rare leukemia -- caused solely by working with formaldehyde. We knew this 10 years ago. Sen Vitter acts to block a nomiantion -- 2 more years of preventalbe death.

[Itdoesnotmatter]

We are in trouble aren't we ? why is it that we the people can't do something about these incompetent, dishonest, treasonist,racist, degenerates?

[hypnus]

This issue is deeply personal to David Vitter. If there is a ban on formaldehyde, what will he use to keep his marriage preserved?

[TRYKER]

Vitter being "exposed" is one thing, but the Senate is totally being exposed and the picture is UGLY.

The whole damn crowd is running one RICO operation after another. Every thing they are doing, with their "sub-contracting" to corporations is against the law. Come on. If this isn't a corrupt organization, I don't know what is.
Working against our country is Treason. "...against all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC!"
WTF is the obstruction to Medicare for All i.e. except treason to the American people who elected them to bring forth Health Care?
If 87% of the people want Public Option, then Public Option IS THE RULE. "...FOR the people" ,
not for the corporations that rob us.

[ReedYoung]

Mass murder as well.

[jemiltd]

http://www.opencongress.org/money_trail

[1murillo]

Vitter proves again that integrity or credibility are not necessary to just say "No," in our senate.

[1murillo]

Vitter enjoys working for his special interests; this story is no surprise.

HP-should put these kind of stories in an "obstruction" menu. It should also create a space for all of the celebrity politicians: SP, Bachmann, Taitz

[haval2]

sorry, that's sleaze in a diaper.

[sippewissett]

Time to check into which industries Vitter is tied closely to. That shouldn't take long. He's a disgrace. No wonder we can't move forward in D.C.: The Party of No has devolved into The Party of Nothing.

[Nonamnesiac]

"Holds", "60 vote requirements in the Senate to pass legislation" are all untrue. They are not required by the Consitution or by law. They are there to stop popular legislation that might seriously impact campaign funding industries from being forced to act legally and be properly regulated (as opposed to fig leaf regulation with minimal fines after years that are a small fraction of the violation committed that caused the fine.)

The Democrats could end "holds" and the "60 vote" requirement any time they feel like it, just as the Republicans threatened to do under Bush (forcing the Dems to cave on filibusters and other anti-working family legislation). The Dems have the votes now to make the Senate, already an undemocratic institution that awards two Senators to each state, whether the state has 500,000 residents or 20,000,000 residents, democratic by ending the filibuster or limiting it so that single-payer health care could pass and by eliminating the "hold".

So HuffPo and the rest of the progressive media should attack these anti-democratic, rules that have no legal basis and stop acting as if Congress is bound by them.