The Buddy System
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:10 am
Proving once again that “loyalty uber alles” is the Perry motto, the Guv yesterday appointed H.S. “Buddy” Garcia chairman of the state’s environmental agency. Buddy has long been a Perry buddy, serving variously as deputy secretary of state, special assistant to the governor, and border commerce coordinator. He brings little environmental know-how to the chair.
In making Garcia chairman of TCEQ Perry passed over commissioner Larry Soward, whom the Guv appointed to the TCEQ in 2003. Soward may have proved a little too independent for Perry’s tastes, repeatedly criticizing the agency for rubber stamping permits and being feckless about cleaning Texas’ lousy air. On the other hand Garcia has, since his nomination to the TCEQ in January, proved charmingly in line with the Guv. On a number of important votes Garcia joined former chairman Kathleen Hartnett White in favoring the interests of corporate polluters.
Environmentalists and urban leaders pressing for sane air pollution policy had hoped that Garcia’s appointment would give them a 2-1 edge. No dice. Especially upsetting was Garcia’s vote in June to approve TXU’s massive new Oak Grove coal-fired plant near Franklin in Robertson County. Two administrative judges had recommended that the permit be denied because they found TXU’s pollution control technology lacking.
Some lawmakers too were hopeful that Garcia would be a breath of fresh air, so to speak, on the commission. In March, a Senate appointment committee tried to suss out where Garcia stood on pressing environmental issues. Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin) asked Garcia to assure skeptics that he would not rubber stamp the coal plants. “I believe the obligation I have as commissioner is to make sure a permit applicant has met its burden of proof,” said Garcia. “I’m here to tell you I will not be a rubber stamp. I take this job very seriously.”
(Yet, the administrative judges in the Oak Grove case explicitly noted in their ruling that TXU had failed to meet the burden of proof required under state law.)
At the senate hearing, Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) warned Garcia that his constituents had “lost faith in TCEQ.” “They believe TCEQ is a servant of polluters,” said Shapleigh. “How are you going to clean up that perception?”
Garcia’s reply: “Applying the law and using common sense might be a good start.”
Whenever you’re ready, Buddy.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:05 am
[…] Surely, if the Texas Republicans are to blame for the problem, why is TCEQ reporting better enforcement stats? It’s not as if TCEQ is apolitical - see, e.g., the recent brouhaha over the appointment of Buddy Garcia to the Commission. […]