Documentary maker Michael Moore was wrong to call the president's rollback on Obama era regulations on climate change the end of human life, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke insisted Wednesday.
"He his wrong across the board, and not for the first time," Zinke told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "We care about clean air and clean water, and also care about jobs. There is a social cost of not having jobs in the economy."
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that seeks to suspend, rescind or flag for review more than a half-dozen measures in an effort to boost domestic energy production in the form of fossil fuels.
According to Trump, the move will both revive the nation's struggling coal industry and create jobs. Zinke said the measure will also ensure cleaner coal will be used worldwide.
"It is better to produce energy here under reasonable regulation than watch it get produced overseas," Zinke said. "As a former [Navy] SEAL, I can tell you I have seen a lot of countries and I have seen what happens in the Middle East and Africa when there is no regulation."
It is also better environmentally to produce energy in the United States and export its cleaner coal, said Zinke.
"China is moving from nuclear to coal fired generation plants," said Zinke. "South Korea is also heavily dependent on coal. Our coal is cleaner. So environmentally, it is better to export cleaner coal."
Trump's action also helps with national defense, said Zinke, as "a strong America ensures a safer world, and the strength of America, largely depends on our military and our ability to export and be energy independent and not to be held hostage by foreign entities."
Zinke said his job, as a steward of the nation's public lands, is not in conflict with his pro-coal stance.
"My intention is to be a steward of the majesty of our public land and make sure we can create wealth and jobs on some of it," said Zinke.
"A lot of our public lands are multiple use, and they are not in conflict on recreation and using our assets. We should be Boy Scouts and leave the campfire in good or better condition than we found it."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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