Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Linn Grubbstrom
Talk Radio News Service

Before the Senate voted on Sen. Lisa Murkowski's (R-Alaska) Environmental Protection Agency disapproval resolution earlier today, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M), called for rejecting the measure, which would block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

"A vote for this resolution would force the United States to use another 450 million barrels of oil, most of which would be imported," said Udall. "A vote for this resolution would let special interests continue to profit while Americans pay the prices. And a vote for this resolution would put at risk landscapes and water supplies."

Udall argued that the disaster caused by a massive oil spill almost two months ago in the Gulf of Mexico should be enough of a warning sign to reject the resolution. Merkley added that the only benefactors of the resolution would be large oil companies.

"What benefits Big Oil is not in the interests of the citizens of the United States, not in the interests of the economy of the United States, not in the interests of the national security of the United States," he said.

Senate rules dictate that Murkowski only needs a simple majority of votes to pass her resolution. So far, the Alaska Republican has 40 co-sponsors, including three Democrats -- Sens. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Mary Landrieu (La.).

Update: Murkowski's resolution was defeated on Thursday by a vote of 47-53.