Exposing 'Covert Propaganda' at the EPA
Straight Talk with Sam
There is a feeling around Washington that Americans can't make decisions for themselves. There are some people here who really do believe more government is the answer to every problem. The attitude isn't new by any stretch, but under President Obama it's only gotten worse.
We've seen it come to life in the form of health care mandates, strict regulations on family farms, and even limits on how much food our children can eat at school. But probably the best example is at the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA has shown that it's willing to do whatever it takes to force its radical agenda on rural America. A few months ago, we even found out the EPA was using agency funding - which are federal tax dollars - to push that agenda.
Specifically, the EPA was paying to put up billboards with pictures of polluted water and dead fish in order to convince states to build costly 100-foot stream buffers around farms. These buffers are part of the EPA's bigger push to regulate streams and ponds on private property - something that's had a real impact on small family farms in Missouri.
The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office called the EPA's actions "covert propaganda," and the agency even admitted the campaign should have never been funded.
Last week, I sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy demanding answers on why - and by whom - this project was approved. The letter also recommends a full and immediate investigation into the case.
Last summer, before there were any allegations of 'covert propaganda' at the EPA, I introduced a bill to check the agency's power and push back against its progressive agenda. The Stop the EPA Act reforms oversight at the EPA, requiring Congress to approve any regulation with an economic impact over $50 million. It also completely wipes any rule that Congress rejects off the books, and stops all current regulations until they are able to be reviewed.
The EPA continues to go too far. I'll keep doing everything in my power to stop them.
Sincerely,
Sam Graves