Ex-Aide: Cheney Nixed CDC Report Testimony

Findings On Climate Change's Health Effects Dropped At VP Office's Urging, Former EPA Official Says

(AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney's office pushed for major deletions in congressional testimony on the public health consequences of climate change, fearing the presentation by a leading U.S. health official might make it harder to avoid regulating greenhouse gases, a former environment official maintains.

When six pages were cut from testimony on climate change and public health by the head of the Centers for Disease Control last October, the White House insisted the changes were made because of reservations raised by White House advisers about the accuracy of the science.

But Jason K. Burnett, until last month the senior adviser on climate change to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson, says that Cheney's office was deeply involved in getting nearly half of the CDC's original draft testimony removed.

"The Council on Environmental Quality and the office of the vice president were seeking deletions to the CDC testimony (concerning) ... any discussions of the human health consequences of climate change," Burnett has told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The three-page letter, a response to an inquiry by Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat and the panel's chairwoman, was obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. Boxer planned a news conference later in the day.

Burnett, 31, a lifelong Democrat who resigned his post last month as associate deputy EPA administrator because of disagreements over the agency's response to climate change, describes deep political concerns at the White House, including in Cheney's office, about linking climate change directly to public health or damage to the environment.

Scientists believe manmade pollution is warming the earth and if the process is not reversed it will cause significant climate changes that pose broad public health problems from increases in disease to more injuries from severe weather.

Senate and House committees have been trying for months to get e-mail exchanges and other documents to determine the extent of political influence on government scientists, but have been rebuffed.

The letter by Burnett for the first time suggests that Cheney's office was deeply involved in downplaying the impacts of climate change as related to public health and welfare, Senate investigators believe.

Cheney's office also objected last January over congressional testimony by Administrator Johnson that "greenhouse gas emissions harm the environment."

An official in Cheney's office "called to tell me that his office wanted the language changed" with references to climate change harming the environment deleted, Burnett said. Nevertheless, the phrase was left in Johnson's testimony.

Cheney's office and the White House Council on Environmental Quality worried that if key health officials provided detailed testimony about global warming's consequences on public health or the environment, it could make it more difficult to avoid regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, Burnett believes.

The EPA currently is examining whether carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas, poses a danger to public health and welfare. The Supreme Court has said if it does, it must be regulated under the Clean Air Act.

Nowhere were these White House concerns more apparent than when CDC Director Julie Gerberding, the head of the government's premier public health watchdog, testified about climate change and public health before Boxer's committee last October. The White House deleted six of the original 14 pages of Gerberding's testimony, including a list of likely public health impacts of global warming.

The White House, at the urging of Cheney's office, "requested that I work with CDC to remove from the testimony any discussion of the human health consequences of climate change," wrote Burnett.

[bmadeline-2009]

What does it take to get these criminals arrested and tried?

[ubrew12]

Darth Cheney strikes again!
Industrial rights of pollution = important
Human health = not important

[txlakeside]

So we pay the folks at the CDC to do their jobs then a stupid greedy politician makes them change the testimony before Congress. We need to impeach Bush and Cheney and then convict them of crimes against humanity. Worst, greediest gang of thieves on the planet!

[jrc007]

Pardon me . . . RICHARD Cheney: Mad Scientist.

Sheesh.

[msgtret2]

What a "news" story a lifetime democrat releases a story in an election year to protect Al Gores income
and keep intellecent people from learning that a natural phenomenon in the weather is not going to cause chaos, Thats the Dems job.

[drinuk]

Whilst I would not trust Cheney as far as I could spit, I''m afraid the science is flawed for reason of Corporate gain.

Global Warming is a Swindle. By the end of this year when the World is in a deep economic recession the last subject on everyones lips will be climate change, it will be buried as the scam it is.

[Gary Kempf]

The White House, at the urging of Cheney''s office, "requested that I work with CDC to remove from the testimony any discussion of the human health consequences of climate change,"

Of course Cheney will still have complete deniability
because all emails (if emailed) will evaporate. And since no one actually spoke to Cheney, he can claim no knowledge of the request. Isn''t it wonderful how the corrupt have no fear....

[jn122736]

%u201CNowhere were these White House concerns more apparent than when CDC Director Julie Gerberding, the head of the government''s premier public health watchdog, testified about climate change and public health before Boxer''s committee last October. The White House deleted six of the original 14 pages of Gerberding''s testimony, including a list of likely public health impacts of global warming.%u201D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is something very wrong with the above statement.

If CDC Director Julie Gerberding testified BEFORE Boxer''s committee, how was the Whitehouse able to delete six of fourteen pages of her testimony?

Why would boxer%u2019s committee allow that to happen?

The only possible answer I can think of would be that;

Director Julie Gerberding did not actually appear before the committee at all.

Rather, Gerberding had made a written testimony; presented it to the Whitehouse for censoring/editing and then only the modified version was presented to the committee.

If that is what happened, it was not actually her testimony by any stretch of the word.

[hotpaulie]

drinuk - The climate is definitely changing. I am a crop farmer and neither I nor my father have seen such drastic weather conditions in all our lives. Example: Iowa had a once in a 500 year flood in 1993. This year (only 15 years later) the flood hit again and even worse so in some counties. Food prices have yet to be affected by weather change. But we won''t have to wait long.

[gotagrip]

Strange, isn''t it, how the right wingers claim that global warming is all a bunch of hot air. They say there''s no concrete evidence. And now we find them hiding the evidence under the carpet. Cheney the puppet master needs to be put in a hot jail cell for the rest of his life. Makes you wonder what his buddy was about to tell us before he received the warning shot to the face!!

[hermitdave]

HEY president Cheney does what ever he wants. If George gets out of line he tells him to shut up and go play with his chainsaw.

[tastepolice]

"The EPA currently is examining whether carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas, poses a danger to public health and welfare. The Supreme Court has said if it does, it must be regulated under the Clean Air Act."

Isn''t this the p*ssing contest that the White House got into with CA, where CA wants to put caps on CO2 emissions? More subverting the law in DC, I suspect.

[informedone1]

Does this really come as a surprise to anyone? The Bush Regime is the most criminal, corrupt, vindictive, immoral, deceitful, secretive, incompetent, divisive administration in the history of this country. Bush, Cheney, Scalia, and Thomas should have been impeached long ago, and Rove, Gonzales, Miers, Armitage, Libby, and their ilk should have been brought up on charges and imprisoned long ago. What a disaster this criminal gang has been to the country and the world. Thanks to all the geniuses who keep voting Republican. Too bad all of us have to suffer for their ignorance.

"Scientists believe manmade pollution is warming the earth and if the process is not reversed it will cause significant climate changes that pose broad public health problems from increases in disease to more injuries from severe weather. "

Scientists also predict many many extinctions. CBS, please stop reporting as if humans were going to be the most affected. Humans can move to Canada and Siberia. Yes, some will die, and many will be inconvenienced, but we will not go extinct like many other species.

[jsmithcsa]

Where''s the news here? A lifelong Democrat, in an election year, disagrees with a Republican administration and makes some unsubstantiated claims to a Democratic Congresswoman (need I add that 50,000 liberals post on CBS''s website their hysterical ravings about the President?). Come on CBS, give us a real story.

[vincan-2009]

Cheney is a crook and has done most of the harm to America by being evil and advising Bush. He is the worst evil person to be a vice president. He and Karl Rove were quite a team working against everything that would be good for the country.

[element51]

Come on people, get a grip. Several years ago the most intelligent mind on the planet Earth decreed that global warming was a fairy tale. I remember when that great mind, RUSH LIMBAUGH, addressed the issue and answered it once and for all. Remember, HE is never wrong about anything, ever. How dare you to doubt HIS greatness. And all Sir Cheney is trying to do is make sure you can get a good nights sleep without worrying your pretty little heads with issues that don''t concern you. Come on folks, the truth is out there. Somewhere.

[jn122736]

Where''''s the news here? A lifelong Democrat, in an election year, disagrees with a Republican administration and makes some unsubstantiated claims to a Democratic Congresswoman (need I add that 50,000 liberals post on CBS''''s website their hysterical ravings about the President?). Come on CBS, give us a real story.
Posted by JSmithCSA at 01:35 PM : Jul 08, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If it were a lifelong republican making the charge you would be expressing your outrage by demeaning his/her personal character and claiming he/she had never really been a republican.

You bush apologists have had to resort to that a lot lately, haven%u2019t you?

[ici2i]

Global Warming is a Swindle. By the end of this year when the World is in a deep economic recession the last subject on everyones lips will be climate change, it will be buried as the scam it is.

Posted by drinuk

Yeah, sure! A scam on global proportions. Must be the coral reefs (now about 50% depleted partly due to temp change), the polar bears, melting of the perma frost, northern expansion of invasive species, decline of the lobsters as they move north, are all in on the big scam and swindle. That''s a truly amazing conspriracy theory you have and of course, none of this is man made.

What do you and shot gun Dickey care? You''ll have enough time to spend your money and eat sea food in your lifetime. To he11 with the next generation right! I have a little secret for you...only 1% of the population will line their pockets by denying this problem and I bet you aren''t going to be on Dickey''s hand out list.

[caldwellptr]

Gives new meaning to the phrase Scorched Earth Politics

[yongamerica]

*** Cheney and Putin office and power both have a lot in common. I wonder how much influence Cheney had in Putin''s current course in Russian politics.

They both persecuted and prosecuted their opposition to strengthen their grip on power. They both hold great sway over the media and its propaganda.

It''s a shame to use the word propaganda as a noun describing today''s US news media outlets. Show me one US news source that doesn''t have any propaganda in it, just straight unbiased journalism. Please.

[tastepolice]

Rush Limbaugh "decreed that global warming was a fairy tale"

Was that before or after his little stint in "rehab"?

[docpeter-2009]

Posted by TastePolice at 01:57 PM : Jul 08, 2008, "Rush Limbaugh "decreed that global warming was a fairy tale"

Was that before or after his little stint in "rehab"?"
________________________

Yes

[batrhyme]

It will be known as the "Post-Bush Depression" because after they leave office all of the things that they have been lying about will be disclosed. The real depression started in 2001. Take the subprime borrowed money (based on false equity) out of the equation and you will see that we have been in negative growth land for years. The "spin cycle" that is done on global warming is the same process that is used on all "government findings". The Cheney directive - "Do not let the truth be told until "we" are well into retirement."

[yongamerica]

So Cheney is cold to global warming?
In true likeness of the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, Seth.

[tastepolice]

"...when asked about his deferments, Cheney reportedly said, "I had other priorities in the ''60s than military service."

What were his "priorities" for starting the War in Iraq?


"Formerly a heavy smoker, Cheney sustained the first of four heart attacks in 1978, at age 37"

THERE''s a definite "con" for the wonders of modern medicine!

[element51]

Guys like Cheney always get their way. Neither he or Bush will ever have to answer to anything they have done. In another 20 years or so people will be singing their praises just like they do now about the great Ronnie Raygun. When these two do finally make their final exit they will be given a heros send off and there will be weeks of praise in the media. It''s just one of those things that make you go,"hummmm".

[zerato-2009]

Where''''s the news here? Come on CBS, give us a real story.

Posted by JSmithCSA

It is strange taht when you have a member of the admin covers up and hides information about a death concern, a republican thinks it is not news. I guess he has heard so many stories about cover ups from this admin, it probabally is old news for him

[fstop100]

Cheney lied to the American people? I am so surprised.

[martin9p2]

Element51, actually I think Bush and Cheney will be remembered in 20 years as the most regressive, oppressive, and dangerous duo ever to hold the office. I do believe that.

[newsjunky5]

It''s nearly impossible to sue a public official. That''s because as public officials they are acting on our behalf and any damage done to us is an unintended consequence.
BUT if it could be shown that Cheney is acting on behalf of big oil for his own enrichment, in the position of a public official, shouldn''t he then be personally liable and subject to lawsuits for damages? If he violated laws doing this, it should be an easier case.

[frankson2]

Let''s see..........an extra large orange jump suit with DOC on the back. Perfect!

[tastepolice]

"Let''''s see..........an extra large orange jump suit with DOC on the back. Perfect!"

Nah...he''ll pull a "Ken Lay" and croak before he sees a cell.

[Gary Kempf]

"Let''''''''s see..........an extra large orange jump suit with DOC on the back. Perfect!"

Nah...he''''ll pull a "Ken Lay" and croak before he sees a cell.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by TastePolice at 02:45 PM : Jul 08, 2008
+ report abuse

I would be happy with that, dead or in prison works for me.

[bobnjersey]

[This list is being censored - my last comment on this was pulled - We are being monitored by the Cheney clan!]
[Posted by watcher269 at 02:48 PM : Jul 08, 2008]

no need to worry ... they''re just changing a few choice words. it will be available shortly.

[element51]

martin9p2....I do so hope that you are right. I guess I have just lost my faith in humanity.

[emelder]

*** Cheney is one of the biggest problems in America today. Not only is he arrogant and self-serving, he has been dishonorable in the way he has conducted his duties as Vice-President. His values dragged down a man who could have been an excellent President (but who ended up being a buffoon due to the poor individuals with whom he surrounded himself. Cheney is a loser!

[bobnjersey]

[How does Cheney find the time to break so many laws between hunting trips?"]
[Posted by dragonwagon5 at 01:43 PM : Jul 08, 2008]

he gets others to do it for him. it works wonders for your time management issues. and it completely solves that pesky ''responsibility and accountability'' thing that everyone cries so loudly about.

[Syndicate]

Wow health effects from a 1 degree increase would be what more heat stroke?

[martel_v]

The personnel at the White House''s Office of Management and Budget, who censored the director''s report, are apparently much better scientists and researchers than the people who work at the Centers for Disease Control. A person might wonder why Bush cares so little about the work of the CDC that he would appoint people to that agency who know FAR less about their chosen field than his White House bean counters. After all, any undergraduate level paper which was returned to the author with big red X''s on 8 of its 14 pages (the article is wrong about the number of pages submitted) would undoubtedly receive an ''F'', but she hasn''t been fired yet.

Dr. Gerberding has cooperated with the Bush administration plan to get rid of CDC doctors, scientists and researchers who are in their way, simultaneously shifting the budget to reduce pay for those who actually do the work while dramatically increasing pay for appointed management.

This enables the White House to direct a claim of incompetence toward anything one of its own agencies produces, even if the White House staff is directly involved. It creates a ''having your cake and eating it too'' sort of result where it''s always unclear where the greatest fault lies...thereby allowing the White House to get away with just about anything they do while pointing their fingers at others. This is a foolproof method for converting any organization into one which is utterly incompetent and ultimately irrelevant...and THAT is the actual plan.

[taddles3]

"the White House insisted the changes were made because of reservations raised by White House advisers about the accuracy of the science."


Horse$hit, the deletions were made by Cheney to save his cronies from having to pay for CO2 scrubbers on their power plants. There''s no question about the science from any credible source, just false questions being raised by oil and coal industry.

Must be nice for the power industry to own the VP, too bad all the rest of us are going to pay for their greed in the end.

[zerato-2009]

Wow health effects from a 1 degree increase would be what more heat stroke?
Posted by cbscrash07

It is apparent you do not know anything about climate cahnge and the effects of climate change are. Perhaps read a book.

[taddles3]

"Wow health effects from a 1 degree increase would be what more heat stroke?

Posted by cbscrash07 at 03:09 PM : Jul 08, 2008"


Too bad you don''t have a clue, you''d realize how stupid your comment is .

[zerato-2009]

Wow health effects from a 1 degree increase would be what more heat stroke?
Posted by cbscrash07


And if it wasn''t nothing then why did cheney alter the final copy?

[martel_v]

Wow health effects from a 1 degree increase would be what more heat stroke? - Posted by cbscrash07

A 1 degree increase in the AVERAGE temperature. That means that you could easily have a 10 degree increase in the most extreme high temperatures in any given year. So, if you live in an area where your highest daytime summer temperature is 106, you''re looking at future highs of 116.

Of course, that 1 degree average increase is now appearing to be a complete pipe dream. We''ll probably see at least twice that.

[aldon61]

The CBS censures are at work people. My last post has been pulled too. This marks the 3rd time today, and at no time have I used profanity, nor inferred violence. I do advocate bringing Bush and Cheney to criminal court though; let''s see if this one is allowed.

[zerato-2009]

I do advocate bringing Bush and Cheney to criminal court though; let''''s see if this one is allowed.
Posted by aldon61

I would love to see taht tahn keep hearing "taht we can not comment on taht issue because of the on going investigation."

[lovegetpeace]

This is old news that our VP Cheney knows more than our Scientists.

[dumbocrat]

AP NEWS: Volcanoes erupting beneath Arctic ice

New evidence deep beneath the Arctic ice suggests that a series of underwater volcanoes have erupted in violent explosions in the past decade.

Hidden 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) beneath the Arctic surface, the volcanoes can range up to more than a mile (2 kilometers) in diameter and a few hundred yards (meters) tall. They formed along the Gakkel Ridge, a lengthy crack in the ocean crust where two rocky plates are spreading apart, pulling new melted rock to the surface.

The eruptions discharge large amounts of carbon dioxide, helium, trace metals and heat into the water over long distances, he said.

The research, detailed in Thursday''s issue of the journal Nature, was funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation and Woods Hole.

BAN THE VOLCANOES!

[neobrian-2009]

Cheney & Shrub Would Lie to the People ?
Oh Really ??
They`ve almost put Charmin out of Biz,..They use Our US Constitution for their biz !