Last week we introduced you to the EPA's former associate deputy administrator Jason Burnett, who resigned last month after ratting out the White House's involvement in denying California's Clean Air Act waiver. Burnett said he left the agency out of frustration, citing an inability to pass meaningful climate regulations under the Bush administration. The LA Times said he left to go work for the Obama campaign, to which he has donated $3,600.

Anyway, Burnett was back in the news yesterday, this time ratting out Vice President Dick Cheney in a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in which he accused the Veep of making several "improvements" to the testimony of CDC Director Julie Gerberding before a hearing last October. And by improvements we mean editing out six pages, including the part where Gerberding planned to say that the CDC "considers climate change a serious public health concern."

Burnett's letter implied that Cheney made liberal use of his black marker out of fear that Gerberding's testimony could trigger new controls under the Clean Air Act that might force the administration to regulate GHG emissions from fossil fuels.

We could pretend to be surprised by these allegations, but we're beyond feigning outrage at this point, especially when it involves Cheney. What does surprise us about yesterday's events are the new details emerging about Burnett, who's starting to look like little more than an over-eager opportunist. Turns out the $3,600 to Obama is just the tip of the iceberg. Since 2000, Burnett has contributed nearly $125,000 to Democratic candidates. Did we mention that Burnett is 31 years old?

As the Associated Press put it, "He appeared to be an odd choice for the EPA post, which included liaison with the White House on climate issues." Odd indeed, though there is an explanation for the six-figure campaign donations that you don't usually see from 20-something federal employees. Burnett is the grandson of David Packard, co-founder of that little company called Hewlett-Packard. We're guessing granddad may left a little something for young Jason.

Look, we're all for whistleblowers, especially in this administration. Just don't insult us with thinly-veiled political pandering and attempt to pawn it off as altruism. Stay tuned. If Obama wins in November, here's betting we'll be hearing more from Burnett. He's a rising star.