Obama aide: McConnell wants to ‘leave the air dirtier’

A top adviser to President Obama accused incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) of advocating for inaction on air pollution and public health problems.

John Podesta told reporters Monday that McConnell and Republican lawmakers, who will soon control both chambers of Congress, won’t stop Obama’s executive actions aimed at mitigating climate change and reducing pollution.

{mosads}“It’s a top priority of his and I don’t believe [Republicans] can stop us from doing that, notwithstanding Sen. McConnell’s making this a top priority to leave the status quo, leave the air dirtier and leave the public health at risk,” Podesta said.

McConnell has repeatedly made the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) climate change rules a top target for when he takes control, saying his priority would be “to get the EPA reined in.”

Podesta’s remarks followed a stern warning he made in May, in which he said Republican efforts to limit Obama’s ability to regulation greenhouse gas emissions “have zero percent chance of working.”

“I stand by my answer in the briefing room and believe that the president will complete action,” Podesta, who has focused mostly on climate since starting as one of Obama’s top advisers in January, said Monday.

Podesta said he thinks the White House could convince Congress to fund Obama’s $3 billion commitment he made for international climate change aid.

“We think we can convince the Congress that their appropriations should be forthcoming,” he said. “It’s a smart approach, it doesn’t overcommit the United States, it actually leverages other international commitments, international money and private-sector money.”

Podesta declined multiple requests to weigh in on Congress’ debate over the Keystone XL pipeline. He recused himself from the issue, since he was an outspoken critic of it when he led the Center for American Progress.