The US Senate on Wednesday rejected a series of amendments that would have blocked or delayed greenhouse gas regulations established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The vote split evenly (50-50) on the Republican-backed amendment that would have permanently stripped the EPA of its authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions and veto the agency’s scientific finding that climate change threatens public health and wellfare.
The amendment needed 60 votes to pass.
Four Democrats joined with Republicans in supporting the amendment – Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
Other amendments addressing the EPA’s authority also failed to gain votes.
The amendment offered by Democrat Max Baucus to exempt agriculture and small businesses from climate rules gained only 7 votes, after meeting with opposition from the agriculture lobby and environmentalists.
Two separate amendments would have delayed EPA regulations by two years. The first, introduced by Democrat Debbie Stabenow also would have prevented California from setting tougher emissions standards, while shielding agriculture from regulations. That amendment fell 7-93.
West Virginia Democrate Jay Rockefeller finally got a floor vote on his amendment to delay regulations. He pushed for the legislation last year, stating that he had strong Republican support. But since then, Republicans increased their ambitions to weaken the EPA, and Rockefellers amendment received only 12 "yes" votes to 88 "no" votes.
The votes are a victory for the EPA and the White House, which is following through on its promise to regulate greenhouse gas emissions after Congress failed to pass climate legislation last year.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is still expected to pass a bill to block the EPA, but that vote would be only symbolic, as the Senate’s intentions are now clear, and the White House has said it would veto any such bill.
But it should be noted that 17 Democrats voted to restrict the EPA to some degree–a sign that the EPA, unfortunately, remains on thin ice.
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