Back in February and March, Reg•Watch blogged about President Bush's proposed budget which called for cuts in EPA funding. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson has been submissive in allowing the White House to hack away at his agency's resources. Naturally, budget cuts at EPA undermine the agency's ability to promulgate regulations to protect the environment. Bush proposed cuts the past few years, and Republican congresses were complicit in reducing the agency's resources. This year, Democrats are bucking the trend and standing up for environmental protection. As Congressional Quarterly (subscription) reports today, a House Appropriations subcommittee approved a bigger budget: Rejecting the president's call for further cuts this year, Democrats proposed a 4.5 percent increase over fiscal 2007 in discretionary spending for the EPA, the Interior Department, the Agriculture Department's Forest Service and several cultural agencies. The Appropriations Committee approved the bill by voice vote, despite Republican complaints that such funding increases are fiscally irresponsible. "I do not know of one increase in the package which cannot be fully justified based on need or on ability to spend the money wisely," said Norm Dicks, D-Wash., chairman of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee.