How important are jobs to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency? Not very, according to recent testimony from EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. After Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., asked whether an EPA economic analysis of new coal ash regulations took into account potential job losses, Stanislaus replied: “Not directly, no.” Gardner then followed up: “Is it standard procedure for an economic analysis to ignore the impact on jobs?” Stanislaus could only manage the following in return: “Well I can get back to you on the specific details of how we do economic analysis.” It has been over three weeks since that exchange, yet Stanislaus has yet to answer Gardner’s question satisfactorily. The EPA should have been ready for this line of questioning. On Jan. 18, Obama issued Executive Order 13563, which directed the regulatory agencies to “protect pubic health, welfare, safety, and our environment, while promoting economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job creation.” Is the EPA ignoring EO 13563?