David Cay Johnston: “The first time I heard that raised--honestly, to say that you cannot deal with the medfly, that somehow that escapes…”

“The first time I heard that raised--honestly, to say that you cannot deal with the medfly, that somehow that escapes health, safety, or the environment, Mr. President, if medfly is not included in the environment, I do not know what is; or under health. I mean we are talking about something that could destroy all the fruit in California. And that does not have anything to do with health? Who are these people over in the Agriculture Department telling you that fruit does not have anything to do with health? I mean what kind of contorted, convoluted logic, to say that fruit does not have anything to do with health? I mean it is clear, Mr. President. I mean these people who oppose risk assessment are looking for ghosts, and finding them everywhere. And you find one ghost, you say what does it take to fix that ghost? You are given the language they want, and they come back and say, 'Ah ha. But that language is ambiguous.'”