Did you ever hear of the expression "smothered with love?" I guess that's what this Administration is doing to us. It loves big energy companies and coal producers so much that its is smothering the rest of us with its love for these industries.

There have been so many stories by now, that this is almost old news. So many stories about how reckless this Adminsitration has been with our environment. But in my opinion, the outrages just never stop.

Thank Heavens that horrible Energy Bill was defeated. The name implied that it was designed to increase the amount of energy available for this country to grow. But what it really did was promote ecologically damaging oil exploration, including coastal exploration and exploration in Alaska.

And it also would have immunized oil companies from liability associated with the gasoline additive MTBE. That additive has ruined water quality all over this country and had threatened the health of many people. Had this become law, these uncaring industrial polluters would have been given free passes. You see, it pays to contribute!

The Energy Bill was passed by the House. Fortunately for all of us who care about the earth and our lungs, for all of us that want something to be left for our kids and their kids, it died in the Senate.

But the assaults continue. Now, the Bush Administration's EPA has adopted new rules that permit large electric plants and other factories to expand operations without fixing their well know air pollution problems. Some of the biggest sources of air pollution in this country come from electric companies that turn coal into electricity.

This is another attempt at rewarding friends of the Administration with a free pass. And the love for these companies may again smother the rest of us. The rules are to go into effect in late December.

14 states have filed a lawsuit to stop this recent Washington attack. They are the States who are the most affected: New York, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. And yes, they are mostly Democratic States.

Nine States are now supporting the Administration. They are Virginia, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. Note that most of these States are not as affected by the pollution generated in the Midwest by the large electric polluters. And, all but one have Republican Attorneys General.

Politics will be around forever. But when people start horse trading our clean air, I take that personally. And I would hope that we all would.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.