Rauner Mirrors Trump by Cutting Back Environmental Protections

Yesterday was Earth Day, and while President Donald Trump’s aggressively rolls back environmental protections, don’t expect a peep from Governor Bruce Rauner. Instead, Rauner’s silent approval of Trump’s actions calls attention to his own cuts to Illinois’ environmental protections.
Last year, Rauner dodged questions from voters about Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, and refused to join other states in committing to the goals. On the state-level, enforcement of environmental protections has “plummeted” under Rauner’s administration and staffing at the Illinois EPA has dropped. Not only do Rauner’s actions “mirror” what’s happening in Washington DC, but they also strip away protections just when Trump is cutting back federal efforts.
“Bruce Rauner would rather hide in the smog than stand up to President Trump,”said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “It’s clear that Rauner has been following the Trump playbook and cutting back needed environmental protections. Illinois families deserve clean air and water, but Rauner’s failing to protect them.”

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