Official: White House made emissions call

WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) -- A former U.S. official has contradicted claims that a decision to block California's stringent emissions plan was not influenced by the White House.

Former federal Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Associate Administrator Jason Burnett told a U.S. Senate committee that contrary to statements made under oath by EPA administrator Stephen Johnson, high Bush administration officials made the decision to deny California's request to regulate auto tailpipe emissions, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Burnett, appearing Tuesday before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, testified that Johnson had originally decided to grant the state a partial EPA waiver, allowing it to implement a plan aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by 30 percent between 2009 and 2016. But he said Johnson's decision was overruled by White House officials.

Burnett's statements contradicted testimony Johnson made to Congress in January, when he said, "The responsibility for making the decision for California rests with me and solely with me," the Post reported.