Ex-Bush Staffers Still Influencing Debate on Climate Change

December 7, 2009
Coal Plant

World leaders, scientists and activists have gathered in Copenhagen this week to discuss global efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change. Hopes are high that these decision-makers will leave the conference with concrete ideas that will encourage substantive debate back in their respective countries.

Here in America, however, the public debate could be trumped by the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of the energy industry. These powerful oil, gas and mining companies have hired well-connected lobbyists to try to derail climate change legislation. According to a new CREW report, Smoke Screen: How Bush Insiders Distorted - And Still Influence - America's Debate Over Climate Change, many of these lobbyists are former Bush administration staffers and political appointees.

Some of these former Bush staffers once held important positions on key bodies such as the White House's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), where they deliberately distorted critical scientific reporting on global warming.

Now that these individuals have left their positions in government, CREW examined what impact these former officials have on the climate change debate today. As CREW discovered, at least 22 former Bush-era climate officials have moved into lobbying or government relations. Fourteen of them are registered lobbyists.

Here are three examples of the "Bush climate alumni" and where they are now:

  • William Holbrook, who served as CEQ's director of communications during two years of the Bush administration, left to go work for the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee - then chaired by Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-OK). Holbrook is now working for the National Petrochemical & Refinery Association.
  • Elizabeth Stolpe was CEQ's associate director for toxics and environmental protection for five years of the Bush era. Prior to joining the Bush administration, Stolpe worked for Koch Industries, an oil conglomerate. She is now a registered lobbyist for Shell Oil Company.
  • Philip Cooney is probably the best known of Bush's former climate policy insiders. Cooney, who was CEQ's chief of staff, resigned his post after coming under fire for editing climate change reports to alter their conclusions. After leaving the administration, he joined Exxon-Mobil. When Cooney left his CEQ post, a reporter asked White House press secretary Scott McClellan: "With his move to Exxon, are there concerns now about at least an appearance of impropriety?" McClellan dismissed those concerns, stating merely "we wish him well."

    • Cooney and other former members of the Bush climate team continue to shape, influence and confuse the debate over global warming. Their "uniforms" may have changed, but they're still playing for the same team.

    Read CREW's Smoke Screen for more information on Bush climate team members who have gone on to lobby or work in government relations.

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