Pruitt assails EPA moves, promises federalism unit

CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 27-Aug-2010

Republican candidate for attorney general, Scott Pruitt, said today (Friday, August 27) the recent petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and several other groups with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban lead in ammunition and fishing tackle is a direct assault on the freedoms guaranteed Oklahomans under the Second Amendment.

While visiting the Lawton area, Pruitt said, “The attempts to ban lead in ammunition and fishing tackle is a back-door attack on basic freedoms we enjoy as Oklahomans and our way of life.  Should the Environmental Protection Agency pursue this ban, as attorney general, I will do all I can to stop Washington bureaucrats like the EPA.”

Pruitt contended there are several options the office of attorney general can pursue against the EPA. Filing a brief on behalf of Oklahomans during the EPA’s public commentary period would be the first step.  More importantly, Pruitt said in a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, he would work to build coalitions of attorney generals across the country who would join to “push back” on the overreach of the federal government in numerous areas including healthcare, immigration and unreasonable environmental constraints that not only would “tank” Oklahoma’s economy, but impede the rights of Oklahoma to set state policies.

Pruitt continued, “This week, we also saw the EPA delay the announcement of draconian ozone standards they seek to put in place to advance an ultra-liberal environmental agenda until after the November elections.  This is the politics of Washington bureaucrats trying to hide their intentions from the people of Oklahoma, and it’s got to be stopped.”

Pruitt said as attorney general one of the first initiatives of his administration will be to prioritize resources in the AG’s office, and dedicate a team, a “federalism unit,” to defend against abuses of power by the federal government that impact Oklahomans.

In previous comments to reporters, Pruitt has said he would press the federal government to take responsibility for management of immigration policy and the costs of enforcement.

Pruitt garnered 134,335 votes (56.% of the total) to win the July 27 GOP primary. His opponent, Oklahoma City attorney Ryan Leonard, had 105,343, or 43.95%.

Pruitt will face Democratic nominee Jim Priest in the November election. Priest gained his party’s nomination without opposition.

Pruitt concluded Friday’s statement” “I will assign attorneys in the AG’s office whose primary responsibility is to determine how the office can and should push back against Washington. Whether its related to property rights, the right to keep and bear arms, the right to educate our children, or related to the first amendment, the attorney general must have resources and leaders internal to the office fighting those battles every day.”

NOTE: Editor Pat McGuigan contributed to this report.