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Associated PressCarol Browner helps a group attacking the president's stances on the environment.
LAKE BUENA VISTA - The woman who led the Environmental Protection Agency for eight years under President Clinton is helping a political group formed to attack President Bush's environmental record.
Former EPA Administrator Carol Browner criticized Bush on Friday, saying a new EPA proposal would weaken mercury emission standards, that his administration has failed to properly fund toxic waste cleanups and he cut money set aside to buy private land around the Everglades.
Browner, who served as Florida's top environmental official before serving in Clinton's Cabinet, spoke at a press conference to promote Environment2004, a Democratic issue advocacy group that will campaign against Bush as he seeks re-election.
"This is the worst administration in history when it comes to clean air, clean water, toxic waste," she said.
"This administration each and every day does something more astounding than the day before."
The group will run campaigns in about five states; Florida is the first being targeted.
Geoffrey Becker, executive director for the Republican Party of Florida, said the president has a strong environmental record in Florida, pointing at a combined state and federal effort to restore the Everglades and Bush's agreement to buy back oil drilling leases off the Panhandle coast and in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
"He's going to have plenty to talk about with the environment," Becker said. "People just don't buy the attack that the president doesn't care."