The Political Environment

Remember the environment? Hardly any talk about it from either side in the just finished two year long campaign. Never mind, the winners say it was a mandate in their favor.

EPA Administrator Michael O. Leavitt says, "The election is a validation of our philosophy and agenda."

That "philosophy and agenda" -- for those of you who don't know -- is applying free-market principles to clean up the environment. It also means efforts to change clean air and water laws and open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration and distributing billions of dollars to private landowners who'll take up wetland and wildlife preservation. (NYT)