Right Wing Climate Lunatic Tries To Stop EPA From Saving The Planet

Sorry, I meant, Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller

Rockefeller's bill, one of several recent congressional efforts to curb the EPA's authority to address climate change under the Clean Air Act, highlights the resistance the administration will face if it attempts to limit carbon dioxide through regulation. Obama and his top deputies have repeatedly said they would prefer for Congress to set mandatory, nationwide limits on greenhouse gas emissions, but the EPA is moving ahead with plans to do so if legislation fails to pass this year.

"Today, we took important action to safeguard jobs, the coal industry, and the entire economy as we move toward clean coal technology," Rockefeller said. "This legislation will issue a two-year suspension on EPA regulation of greenhouse gases from stationary sources--giving Congress the time it needs to address an issue as complicated and expansive as our energy future. Congress, not the EPA, must be the ideal decision-maker on such a challenging issue."

Republicans, too, have repeatedly tried to rein in the EPA's climate authority--Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has introduced a resolution of disapproval that would overturn the agency's scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, and House Republicans introduced their own version of the resolution this week. But Rockefeller's effort is especially significant because it points to growing unease among Democrats over the prospect of the administration tackling climate change without explicit congressional approval.

Cap and Trade was never going to become law because there are way to many states that would have been bankrupted by it Death by EPA regulation was (and sort of still is) the real threat so it's nice to see push back not just from Republicans but Democrats as well. They'd never get this through the House but it won't be a problem should the Republicans get control there in November. Obama won't sign a stand alone bill stipping the EPA of this power but it'll get rolled into something that has to pass and be signed and Gaia worshipers will cry sweet, sweet tears.

Like health care, Cap and Trade is a wedge issue that Democrats have inflicted upon themselves. Their left wing base loves it but the grown ups known it's death and will fight it.

Added bonus...the House passed their Cap and Trade bill only to see the Senate walk run away from it. That's one of the factors that has created such ill will between the two houses that has held up health care.

posted by DrewM. at 02:14 PM

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