WAWG
From the National Association of Wheat Growers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has admitted that the Washington state billboards blaming farmers for pollution to waterways should never have been funded, but U.S. House members are now inquiring as to why the EPA funded the whatsupstream.com website, violating federal laws regarding lobbying and advocacy funds. Following the revelation that the EPA has committed similar violations with its advocacy campaigns supporting the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation, inquiries are being made as to why a campaign that urges constituents to contact their legislators was being funded by EPA, which is federally prohibited from using federal funds for advocacy purposes. The website for the whatsupstream.com campaign features a button directing visitors to send a form letter to legislators, asking them to support more regulation of agriculture land and waterways. Participation in such lobbying efforts is in conflict with the EPA’s prohibition from funding publicity or propaganda for advocacy. Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) recently also sent a letter to the EPA Office of Inspector General requesting an official audit and investigation into the campaign, and the House Committee on Agriculture is conducting an oversight investigation of EPA grant management. In the House, 145 members, led by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), have now signed on to another official letter condemning the EPA’s actions in engaging in funding advocacy efforts which go against the entities the EPA seeks to regulate.