Critics of the Bush administration's environmental policies are increasingly pointing to loose regulation as a major factor in a range of problems, including the financial crisis and imports of unsafe Chinese goods. As President George W. Bush's time in office comes to a close, there is growing concern about the reliance on regulation rather than legislation to shape environmental policy. This issue has become more prominent in the lead-up to the presidential election on November 4, with both John McCain and Barack Obama taking positions on the environment that differ from the current administration. While the environment is important to American voters, it is not their top priority - the economy and jobs are of greater concern, according to PollingReport.com. A CNN poll in July found that 66 percent of respondents considered the environment important or very important in choosing a president, compared to 93 percent who felt the same way about the economy. A variety of environmental issues, such as carbon emissions, endangered species protection, and pollution cleanup, have been criticized by opponents for the White House's failure to strengthen some regulations and relax others. Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, has been leading the charge against the Bush administration's efforts to weaken environmental rules for the benefit of specific interests, highlighting the negative consequences on public health. Frank O'Donnell from Clean Air Watch also criticized the administration for its lack of regulation in environmental policy. A Capitol Hill staffer who is knowledgeable about global warming legislation accused the Bush administration of actively working against efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The staffer claimed that they were the main hindrance to progress and did everything they could to prevent any action from being taken. However, James Connaughton, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality, strongly disagreed. He argued that the Bush administration has achieved as much or more in terms of environmental accomplishments compared to previous administrations, sometimes through regulation and other times by offering incentives. Connaughton criticized states, particularly California, for setting high environmental standards but failing to meet them. He specifically criticized Congress for not reinstating the Clean Air Interstate Rule, which would have reduced power plant pollution, after it was rejected by a federal appeals court in July. Bush had promised to regulate carbon emissions when he first ran for president in 2000, 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 had the authority to regulate greenhouse gases if they posed a threat to human health. The EPA postponed a decision on this finding, leaving it likely that regulatory action will be up to either Obama or McCain. The Bush administration's handling of endangered species has been heavily criticized by conservation groups. Up to now, 58 species have been included in the Endangered Species Act during the current president's term. This is significantly lower compared to the 522 species listed under President Bill Clinton and 231 under President George H.W. Bush, who only served one term. The Bush administration waited until May 14, just one day before a court-ordered deadline, to list the polar bear as threatened by climate change. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne stated that this listing would not directly address climate change and that he was implementing administrative and regulatory measures to prevent the decision from being misused for global warming policy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce expressed approval for the decision, describing it as a reasonable compromise between business interests and environmental considerations. During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on September 24, Boxer criticized the Bush administration for allegedly attempting to weaken the EPA and Interior Department's efforts to safeguard public health and the environment.