“Environmental Protection Agency chief Stephen Johnson originally backed California’s effort to set the nation’s toughest vehicle emissions limits, but dropped his support after hearing opposition from the White House, according to a new congressional report. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, said new details unearthed in interviews with top EPA officials showed the White House ‘played a decisive role in the rejection of the California motor vehicle standards’ in December. An EPA spokesman dubbed the report ‘distraction-oriented, political tactics’ by the committee and said Johnson stands by his decision.” (05/19/08)