Inside Politics

“Jackson issued the finding largely because the Obama team believes - or at least thinks that Congress believes - that EPA regulation of CO2 would be devastating to the economy,” Mr. Schulz said.

“The endangerment finding was designed to strike fear into the hearts of those worried about the economic harm of severe government action. The aim is to terrify industry and move public opinion to such a degree that Congress feels compelled to pass cap-and-trade legislation - no matter how economically harmful it would be - in order to pre-empt a much worse, EPA-imposed regulatory regime. It is, essentially, environmental blackmail.

“Up to this point, Congress has seemed unwilling to pass global warming legislation, largely because of the perceived economic damage that would ensue. A 2007 MIT study suggested that cap-and-trade would cost the average American family $3,900 each year in economic losses and taxes. A more recent Heritage Foundation study reached a similar conclusion.

“Even candidate Obama said, ‘Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.’ What Obama is saying to Congress today is: If you dont pass cap-and-trade, which I have already acknowledged is costly, Ive got something coming down the pike that will be even costlier. Its a very cynical and very risky strategy.”

HE’S BACK

“Larry Klayman made a name for himself investigating backroom deals in the Clinton and Bush administrations, like Bubba’s China-gate fundraising scandal and former Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force meetings. Now it’s President Obama’s turn to face Klayman and his latest public-interest group, Freedom Watch,” Paul Bedard writes in the Washington Whispers column at usnews.com.

“[Tuesday] at 5 a.m., Klayman tells Whispers, he tried to serve a legal document on the White House asking for all papers, e-mails and meeting notes related to the administration’s discussions with outside groups on health care reform. He told us he is especially interested in any communications or meetings with Planned Parenthood, the American Medical Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

“What’s more, the letter demanded that he be allowed into any future meeting on the topic with outside groups, claiming that such sessions amount to meetings that should legally be open to the public. Failure to act by [Wednesday] afternoon, he said, will result in further legal action. ‘I’ll bring a lawsuit,’ he promised.”

• Greg Pierce can be reached at 202/636-3285 or gpierce@washington times.com.