APPROPRIATORS PUSH EPA TO OVERHAUL FOCUS AS BUDGET CRUNCH GROWS

House appropriators are pressing EPA to consider realigning its regional priorities and overhauling its state oversight given limited resources in an increasingly tough budget environment, as the lawmakers slashed funding for new EPA energy and homeland security programs and redirected some funding to what they call "mission essential" agency programs. At the same time, the House Appropriations Committee has set the stage for a contentious floor fight over EPA's fiscal year 2007 spending bill, after lawmakers added two Democratic-sponsored climate...