Waxman: DoT lobbying tactics ‘inappropriate’

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) expressed concern Tuesday that the Department of Transportation (DoT) is improperly lobbying members of Congress on state emissions standards.

{mosads}In a letter to DoT Secretary Mary E. Peters, Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, questioned whether the department was attempting to oppose efforts by California and other states to establish their own motor vehicle emissions standards.

“Such an effort by the Department appears to be highly inappropriate and would be considered by some to be illegal,” Waxman wrote.

In April, California requested permission from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a waiver that would allow the state to set lower gas emission standards for new vehicles than federal law currently mandates. Eleven other states have joined the petition.

In the letter, Waxman cited a voicemail message received by the staff of an unnamed member of Congress from Heideh Shahmoradi, special assistant for governmental affairs in Peters’s office.

According to Waxman, the voicemail suggested that “the member (1) submit comments to EPA opposing California’s request and (2) reach out to your governor’s office for them to submit comments, since this would greatly impact auto facilities within your district.”

“It is not an appropriate use of federal resources to lobby members of Congress to oppose state efforts to protect the environment,” Waxman said, concluding that, “at the very least, Ms. Shahmoradi’s call suggests the presence of an improper hidden agenda.”