Mike Leavitt© EPA
Whom the Bush camp will tap to take over the EPA is anybody’s guess at this point. Congressional insiders speculate that Idaho’s outspoken and conservative Republican governor Dirk Kempthorne is probably on the short list, as he was considered for the position last time around, and shares similar pro-development values with the President.
But the EPA post might be a tough sell indeed. “EPA is a dead-end job in a Republican administration—one whose occupant is certain to be pummeled by the cross-pressures from advocacy and industry groups,” opines syndicated columnist David Broder. In any case, environmentalists are hopeful that whomever the Bush administration does select will build on the short list of positive achievements during Leavitt’s term, including a recently completed Great Lakes restoration plan.
Sources: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-12-13-leavitt-hhs_x.htm; http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-dec1304-kempthorne_EPA.842cef5.html; and http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opinion/10424730.htm