Yes, yes…network news is to news, like processed cheese food product is to cheese.  But as it turns out, there Is a way to find out from your TV what’s going on in Washington.  You just have to adjust your perspective a tad. 

For example…have you noticed all those "clean coal" ads on TV lately?

EPA Abruptly Backs Away From Proposals to Alter Air-Pollution Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday abandoned its push to revise two air-pollution rules in ways that environmentalists had long opposed, abruptly dropping measures that the Bush administration had spent years preparing.

One proposal would have made it easier to build a coal-fired power plant, refinery or factory near a national park. The other would have altered the rules that govern when power plants must install antipollution devices. Environmentalists said it would result in fewer such cleanups.

EPA officials had been trying to finalize both proposals before President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in Jan. 20. But yesterday, an agency spokesman said they were giving up, surprising critics and supporters of the measures.

Rule of thumb:  When you suddenly start seeing a lot of feel good advertising from some big corporate interest groups, it’s a safe bet they’re trying to push something through congress.

What the coal and energy corporations want you to know, is that coal is clean.  Swell.  That’s really swell.  Glad to hear it.  But if coal is clean then why do they need congress to change the clean air act?