Political Quotes

“A little over a year ago, the GAO reported alarming findings at the ENERGY STAR program, a joint EPA and DOE program designed to save American consumers money on their utility bills. Although well intentioned, I have concerns that the ENERGY STAR program is leveraging hard-earned tax dollars and the trust of the American people for a program that lacks oversight, could still be subject to fraud and abuse, and one that would be better administered by the private sector. I have the report here in my hand. In March 2010, the report indicates that the GAO released its report, documenting that the program was mainly a self-certification program without much oversight or accountability. In fact, according to the report, GAO created several fictitious companies without any relevant products on the market that easily became ENERGY STAR manufacturing partners. This new status granted these groups unlimited access to ENERGY STAR logos and promotional resources, and GAO was also able to obtain certification for 15 bogus products, including a gas-powered alarm clock and a ``room cleaner'' which was incredulously a feather duster taped to a space heater. Prior to approving these items, EPA failed to review any additional materials, including Web sites and self-incriminating pictures. My amendment will simply reduce the Environmental Programs and Management account within EPA by $48,206,000, with the intent of removing the EPA's portion of funding for the ENERGY STAR program.…”