The showdown over EPA regulations for greenhouse gas emissions will be voted on this week – the final week before Republicans force a government shut-down on April 8.
Senate Majority leader Harry Reid says they will absolutely not allow the EPA to be stripped of its regulatory powers.
According to Politico, Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma stalled the vote last week in an effort to force a vote on his amendment to repeal ethanol subsidies. But he has since backed down, clearing the way for votes on the three amendments that address the EPA’s regulatory authority.
Lawmakers are expected to vote first on an amendment by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that would exempt agriculture from the emissions regulations and make permanent EPA’s "tailoring" rule, which exempts smaller emitters from the regulations.
That vote is seen as a way keep the support of moderate, heartland Democrats.
Next, the Senate is likely to vote on a Republican amendment that would permanently block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The amendment is sure to fall, as it only has the support of 42 Republican Senators and one Democrat–coal enthusiast Joe Manchin from West Virginia.
A third amendment, offered by Democrat Jay Rockefeller (also from West Virginia), seeks to delay regulations for two years. It’s unclear how much support that amendment would draw, if it comes to a vote.
Other Anti-Environmental Amendments
The House-passed H.R. 1 includes amendments prohibiting funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, the Conservation Stewardship Program and EPA regulation of gases linked to global climate change. It has riders to block the EPA’s ability to deny mining permits under the authority of the Clean Water Act and designate coal ash residue as hazardous waste.
Meanwhile, 22 conservative state legislators are supporting the effort to limit the EPA. 8 states – including Michigan and Virginia – adopted formal resolutions to pressure congress to block the EPA’s regulatory "train wreck." 14 others have similar measures working their way through committees.
This represents the growing influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council – a group of industries and free-market state legislators. They wrote model legislative language on their "train wreck" website and in companion documents that are being used by most of the states.
The rift is getting pretty wide between the environmnental community and the Obama Administration.
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