Critics of the Bush administration's environmental policies are increasingly expressing concerns about the lack of strict regulation, which has been linked to various issues such as the financial crisis and tainted imports from China. As the end of President George W. Bush's tenure approaches, there is growing criticism of using regulation instead of legislation to shape environmental policy. This criticism has been amplified by the upcoming presidential election, with both John McCain and Barack Obama presenting environmental platforms that differ from the current administration. While the environment is a significant issue for U.S. voters, it is not their top priority, with the economy and jobs taking precedence according to PollingReport.com. A CNN poll in July showed that while 66 percent of respondents considered the environment important in choosing a president, 93 percent said the same about the economy. Opponents, both within and outside of the government, have criticized the White House for not tightening some environmental regulations and loosening others on a variety of issues ranging from climate change to pollution cleanup. Senator Barbara Boxer of California has been leading the charge against the Bush administration's efforts to weaken environmental rules for the benefit of special interests, stating that the consequences of such actions are severe. Frank O'Donnell, from Clean Air Watch, also noted that the lack of regulation has been a defining feature of the Bush administration's environmental policy. A Capitol Hill staffer familiar with global warming legislation accused the Bush administration of actively working against efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The staffer claimed that the administration was the main hindrance to progress in this area. In response, James Connaughton, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality, argued that the Bush administration has matched or surpassed the environmental achievements of past administrations, using a combination of regulations and incentives. Connaughton also criticized states like California for setting ambitious environmental goals but not meeting them. He specifically criticized Congress for not reinstating the Clean Air Interstate Rule, which aimed to reduce power plant pollution, after it was rejected by a federal appeals court in July. When Bush ran for president in 2000, he promised to regulate carbon emissions but changed his stance once in office, arguing that mandatory caps on greenhouse gases would harm U.S. jobs and benefit countries like China and India. In April 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the EPA could regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants if they posed a threat to human health. The EPA postponed a decision on this ruling, leaving it likely that any regulatory action will be taken by either Obama or McCain after the election in November. The Bush administration's handling of endangered species has been heavily criticized by conservation groups. Up until now, 58 species have been included in the Endangered Species Act during the current president's term, in comparison to 522 during President Bill Clinton's term and 231 during President George H.W. Bush's term. The Bush administration delayed listing the polar bear as threatened by climate change until May 14, just one day before a court-ordered deadline. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne stated that listing the polar bear would not combat climate change and that he was implementing measures to prevent the decision from being used to create global warming policy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commended the ruling, describing it as a sensible compromise between business interests and environmental issues. During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on September 24, Boxer criticized the Bush administration for attempting to weaken the EPA and Interior Department's efforts to safeguard public health and the environment.