Terry Tamminen

In a week that featured criticism of debate moderators' questions for lack of substance, there was a good bit of it to be found in the recent media appearances of California's former EPA secretary and environmental crusader Terry Tamminen as he continued to promote his most recent book," Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction."

In the book, Tamminen proposes, among other things, that governments should sue (1) oil companies for doing damage similar to the harm cigarette companies cause to the health of human beings and (2) regulators under the so-called public trust doctrine for failing in their duties as trustees with jurisdiction over the air we breathe. Tamminen claims the oil companies have lied to the government. Interesting for a former cabinet secretary who is still an energy adviser to the Hummer-driving governor of the state, whose reputation on the environment Tamminen helped burnish for a time.