The basis of any sound economic policy is the recognition that any new policy involves trade-offs--costs and benefits--no free lunch...From the Columbus Dispatch:

A Bush administration plan to cut smog in Columbus and cities across the United States might not be tough enough to protect people's health, the Obama administration said yesterday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will take a new look at the science used to create smog standards in March 2008. The move answers a lawsuit filed by environmental and health advocates who argue that the government ignored key evidence that showed the need for even tougher standards.

New, tougher rules would mean more work for the Ohio EPA to cut smog in urban areas by 2013. It estimates that 31 counties -- including Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Knox, Licking and Madison in central Ohio -- don't meet the 2008 standard. That number could grow with tougher rules.

And tougher rules could mean we pay more for cleaner gasoline and that businesses could face tougher smokestack limits on pollutants that cause smog.

Environmentalists say the trade-off is reduced medical costs for people with asthma and other chronic lung diseases.

Link to original post