Arsenic laws redrawn without cause

In a recent "Simpsons" episode, Bart defaces school property in an attempt to blame it on his sister Lisa. The scene is typical of "The Simpsons", and it should come as no surprise that this child-like behavior runs amuck in politics as well. But in this parallel the school is our tap water, and Clinton (Bart) is no child.\n As a last-minute move to offer political ammunition for Congressional Democrats, Clinton set a five-year deadline to cut the level of arsenic in tap water to 10 parts per million from the existing standard of 50, knowing full well that President Bush would have to nix the regulation.\n Clinton's Bart Simpson-like ploy worked, and not only have radical left-wing groups been assailing President Bush, but so have the mainstream media.\nArsenic, at high levels, has been linked to cancer, neurological damage and even death, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency monitors and regulates it in our drinking water. But that doesn't explain why Bill Clinton decided in his final days as President, without any scientific justification, that the safe level of arsenic since 1942 was suddenly too high.\nIn fact, Clinton has many scientists wondering. According to the American Society for Nutritional Sciences, studies in animals showed the poison can be beneficial in extremely small doses. Goats that got no arsenic at all fared poorly in the studies.\nIn December 1999 a conference of governors concluded, "arsenic may have an essential or beneficial effect at low doses."\nClearly arsenic is dangerous in high doses and requires government regulation, but where are the scientific studies calling for lower levels? Have we been in danger for the past 59 years? Why have these been acceptable standards from President Roosevelt through Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton administrations? If this is such a pressing issue, why did Clinton wait until his final days to issue the orders?\nIronically, in October 2000, Senate minority leader Tom Daschle was one of 18 Democratic senators who voted to delay the EPA regulation, allowing for more studies. If the delay of EPA regulations truly puts America at risk, then Daschle and his fellow Democrats are just as much at fault as President Bush.\nYet this same Senator, without any new findings, recently lambasted Bush's arsenic action as "an outrageous and indefensible decision." Daschle and other Democrats were so "appalled" by Bush's delay that the DNC took out advertisements across America that show a small girl holding up a glass of water and asking, "May I please have some more arsenic in my water mommy?"\nBush never pushed for more arsenic in our drinking water, as Democratic advertisements falsely claim. He merely wanted to delay the action to prevent a brash and costly mistake, which is precisely what Clinton, Gore, and Daschle did for eight years.\nNot only are Daschle and his cronies lying to the American public with this cheap and tawdry ad, they're suddenly pushing for regulations that, according to the EPA Web site, will range between $379 million to $756 million annually.\nThe costs will hit low-income families and small communities the hardest. The enormous costs would fall disproportionately on smaller utilities unequipped to handle both the high installation costs and a more sophisticated treatment process.\nOf course, we shouldn\'t forget that nearly 80 percent of our tap water isn't even consumed. Are you ready to fork out millions more in tax dollars to ensure that your laundry or car is rinsed in water with only 10 parts per million?\nIf Daschle truly wants what is best for the American public, he would have supported Bush's initial decision to reduce arsenic levels once "sound science" could determine if new levels are really needed.\nUnfortunately, Bush eventually buckled. He and EPA Director Christie Whitman announced that they would not only reduce the levels of arsenic in tap water, but also probably reduce them to half the levels proposed by Clinton! Clinton's cowardly move successfully tied President Bush's hands and offered a few last rounds of political ammunition for his leaderless party.\n President Bush still has a lot to learn. He gave in to the radical left-wing, but late enough to still loose their public relations war over it. \n In the "Simpsons" episode, Bart eventually got caught and was forced to take responsibility for his actions. Will "Slick Willy" and Sen. Tom Daschle also be held accountable? Only time will tell.