Republican plan to abolish EPA ending consensus to ensure healthy air and water for our kids #p2

The EPA and its science-based safeguards are the "thin green line" that protects your children from the corporate polluters who want to poison the air and water and oceans and climate.  This ThinkProgress cross-post (with video compilation) reveals just how many GOP extremists want to end that protection.

For the past 40 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has played a key role in protecting our nation's air, lands, and water from polluters. Now, if a growing chorus of Republicans get their way, the EPA's days could be numbered.

Last month, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich became the first high-profile conservative to champion one of the most extreme environmental positions in recent memory: total elimination of the EPA.

Still, there are few policies too far right for the modern GOP, and dismantling the EPA is no exception. Over the past few weeks, ThinkProgress spoke with various members of Congress to get their thoughts on abolishing the EPA. Many, including freshmen Reps. Joe Walsh (R-IL) and Rich Nugent (R-FL), vigorously joined Gingrich in his anti-EPA mission.

Watch a compilation video:

rest at http://climateprogress.org/2011/02/17/the-republican-plan-to-abolish-epa-ending-the-four-decade-bipartisan-consensus-to-ensure-health-air-and-water-for-our-kids/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+climateprogress%2FlCrX+%28Climate+Progress%29