The Senate Democrats eliminated one likely vehicle of limiting the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by canceling a markup of the agency’s annual spending bill. Two dozen industry groups sent a letter calling on congressional appropriators to suspend the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The rules are scheduled to take effect in January.
It was originally thought the spending bill markup which offered an amendment to block funding for coming greenhouse gas rules would be the vehicle to limit the EPA regulation. However, the committee abruptly dropped the fiscal 2011 Interior-Environment spending bill from its schedule earlier last week, it is doubted this bill will re-surface anytime soon.
Some key individuals have offered that the Senate floor debate on the defense authorization bill will provide an opportunity to limit EPA’s regulation on greenhouse gas emission. Another option could be a bill sponsored by Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV , D-W.Va.. The bill would delay any EPA regulation for two years. It has been reported that Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev. may allow a vote on the bill.