Republicans Say EPA Is Overreaching Boundaries
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 5:31PMBy Robert Hune-Kalter
Talk Radio News Service
Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) were joined by other GOP members for a press conference on the upcoming vote on the Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding disapproval resolution. Murkowski is putting forth a resolution that would prohibit the EPA from regulating carbon emissions.
“The overreach that we see by the EPA is truly unprecedented in terms of overreach into the legislative branch by the executive. The EPA intends to take control of climate policy, take it away from Congress,” said Murkowski.
Alexander said he was not happy that the EPA wants to impose regulations on any emitter of more than 250 tons of carbon.
“This means one-fifth of our restaurants, one-fourth of all of our schools, two-thirds of all hospitals and doctors offices, one-tenth of our churches, and millions of small businesses, in effect such a broad rule would run millions of jobs overseas looking for cheap energy,” said Alexander.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he believes that the EPA regulating carbon output by businesses would be a disaster because the agency does not have the tools Congress has for regulation. While he said carbon regulation would be a job killer, he added that it is a goal to work towards.
“When it comes to carbon pollution, I am in the camp that believes all the stuff being spewed out of the cars and trucks and the plants is not good for you, but I would like to find a business-friendly way to regulate carbon,” he said.
Murkowski’s resolution will be debated in the Senate on Thursday.
Reader Comments (1)
Since when was carbon regulation Congress's job? She complains that the EPA is taking over carbon regulation, but that's their job! They are the Environmental Protection Agency. And, although I'm not sure that the regulation would be as detrimental to businesses as Alexander claims, I would argue that regulation can't wait any longer. According to scientists, we're AT the tipping point, or only a year or two away from it. We don't have time to conjure up something that's going to be nicer to businesses. I know it will be a hard change but I feel it's time we just bucked up and dealt with it. I believe in the innovation power of this country and our ability to overcome adversity.