GOP'ers Tout Anti-EPA Bill, Assail Obama's Tax Plan

By Janie Amaya

Republicans gathered today to voice support for the TRAIN Act, which would commission a new panel to study the cost-benefit analysis of new air pollution regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The bill’s author, Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.), said the legislation would allow businesses to add to their payrolls.

“The politicians, we don’t create jobs,” he said. “But what we can do is get the heck out of the way. That’s why it’s so important that we address these government regulations.”

The bill is expected to hit the House floor tomorrow. While it has a good chance of passing through the lower chamber, the White House has issued a veto threat against it, arguing that it would “slow or undermine important public health protections.”

Obama, himself, has publicly championed his administration’s efforts to roll back rules and regulations, and earlier this month delayed the EPA’s ability to move forward with a key air pollution rule that Republicans said would hurt businesses badly struggling to help reduce the current 9.1 percent unemployment rate.

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats wrote to the President, urging him to not give in to GOP-led efforts to weaken the EPA’s power to regulate the environment.

GOP lawmakers also blasted President Obama’s latest proposal to raise taxes on top earners in order to pay down the nation’s debt and deficit.

“Unfortunately, what we’ve seen is that the President has made a decision; that he’s gonna go into full campaign mode now, 14 months before the election,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).