7-2-07 by Court
The independent state auditor should investigate the reason for the
dismissal of Air Resource Board Chairman Bob Sawyer after the
resignation of Board executive director Cartherine Witherspoon today.
The public deserves to know the truth behind the firing and
Governor Schwarzenegger should welcome the investigation to clear the
air.
Witherspoon told the Fresno Bee
the "inner circle" in the Governor’s office tried to quash clean air
regulation. "The day-to-day orders that we receive from the
governor’s office are to do less; to delay; to not burden industry."
Witherspoon said the reason given for Sawyer’s departure was a "cover-up." According to the Bee:
Schwarzenegger aides were worried that Sawyer was moving too
aggressively on rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."The
real reason for firing him which was climate change policy," she said.
Sawyer "sought to adopt more early action measures than the governor’s
office wanted."
Californians deserve the truth and Schwarzenegger should welcome the state auditor’s probe.