Cornyn Letter to the Editor: Defending the Court’s EPA Ruling

I authored the following Letter to the Editor in the New York Times:

To the Editor:

In “The Supreme Court Has Made It Even Harder to Fight Climate Change” (editorial, Sunday Review, July 3), the editorial board described the ruling in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency as “a blow to both the public interest and democracy.”

This argument hinges on the notion that Congress has given agencies unchecked authority to govern because they are experts on subjects too complicated for citizens and legislators to understand. Balderdash.

Agencies were established to implement and enforce federal laws. Period. They are not all-knowing, and they are not beyond reproach.

The subject matter experts who staff these agencies are important cogs in the machine, but they are not — and should not be — the ones pulling the levers. Self-government relies on the will of the people, and that will is realized through legislation, not regulation.

Agencies are subject to the same series of checks and balances as the rest of our government. A Supreme Court decision viewed unfavorably by climate activists isn’t a blow to democracy — it’s proof that our government is functioning properly.

John Cornyn
Austin, Texas