See below for the latest developments today on Ralph Northam’s budding scandal over his doing Dominion’s dirty work and replacing two members of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board.
First, click here for a story by Community Idea Stations, which reports that “One of Governor Ralph Northam’s new appointments for the State Air Pollution Control Board says she was first contacted ‘a few days ago’ about the role” and that it was a “delightful surprise.” Uhhh…yeah, just delightful – for Dominion Energy, perhaps! As Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network put it, “Clearly, this was a sudden, rushed decision by the Governor…The timing is stunningly suspect.” Big time.
Second, we’re hopefully going to find out just HOW “stunningly suspect” this all was if/when Wild Virginia’s FOIA request receives the full answer it deserves.
Third, see the ThinkProgress story, which reports that one of the Air Board members Northam summarily dismissed, Rebecca Rubin, called the dismissals just before a crucial vote to be “very unfortunate.” Rubin added that the knowledge and expertise of herself and the other dismissed Air Board member were “both fundamental to a responsible vote and irreplaceable.” Thanks to Ralph Northam doing Dominion’s bidding, that “irreplaceable” expertise is now gone, with the crucial vote coming in just over two weeks.
Finally, check out the following video of Northam refusing to answer a basic, direct question by a member of the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition (VSEC). Specifically, the VSEC person asked Northam this morning, “I was wondering if you expect new air board members to vote without having heard any public comment?” Northam’s non-response: “I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving; thanks for being here.” Pathetic.
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