Bloomberg news reports that the non-partisan Environmental Integrity Project found that the EPA has collected roughly half as much in civil penalties from polluters during President Trump's first year in office than it did under the three past Presidents in the same time frame according to their research.
Head of the "Project" is Eric Schaeffer who was a former director of the EPA's Office of Civil Enforcement, said the decline sends the wrong signal to would be polluters, and that coupled with cuts to the EPA may reduce their ability to pursue violators. Also President Trumps dismantling of the EPA means violators are less likely to be caught.
The "Project" also found that Trump's EPA settled roughly 44 percent fewer civil cases involving violations of environmental laws. Penalties collected totaled 49% of the average of the three previous Presidents first year in office. And this is what has taken place in Trumps first year in office What about the next 3 years if Trump is still around? The situation will just compound and become worse reversing all the good that has been accomplished before the arrival of the trumpet man.
And for those who may not be following politics, Trump is getting ready to do the same to the banking industry by removing the safe guards put in place by the Dodd-Frank legislation, ignoring other bank regulations and approving the wholesale merger of the banks. This action will lead to another great recession that will have its roots in Trump's actions.
There are two ways to deregulation. Change the regulations or simply stop enforcement of them. Both Reagan and Bush 43 did that and now Trump is the third ditto head to do so. As for the American people and the country, the warning of what to come could not be any clearer.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
