Marathon Pundit: McConnell amendment to block EPA overreach may come to a vote soon

A vote may take place as early as tomorrow on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's amendment that would block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. As I wrote yesterday, having failed to enact cap and trade, the Democrats are attempting to use the EPA to install a back door energy tax, one that would devastate our fragile economy.

Here's what William O'Keefe, writing for Investors Business Daily, has to say:

Jobs and the economy are still top concerns -- global warming barely registers in these polls -- and given the low expectations for economic growth between now and Nov. 2012, that's almost certain to continue into the next election.

This should all be of particular concern to Democratic senators up for reelection that year -- especially so for those from industrial and coal-heavy states, like Michigan’s Debbie Stabenow, Pennsylvania's Robert Casey, and Nebraska's Ben Nelson -- whose loss would turn control of the Senate over to Republicans.

On Tuesday, these Senators will have the opportunity to show that they truly have their priorities straight. That's when Sen. Mitch McConnell's "Energy Tax Limitation Amendment" comes up for a vote. Unlike Rockefeller’s and Baucus’ unacceptable half measures, McConnell's amendment, based on a bill (S. 482) introduced by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., would strip EPA of its authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and would also repeal several EPA rules and actions, including greenhouse gas emission reporting rules. But while McConnell's amendment has a chance of passing the Senate, it currently doesn’t have enough votes to sustain an expected presidential veto.

That needs to change.

The Democrats have their own ideas, which Rob Port debunks.

Carol Greenberg has assembled a round-up of the EPA legislation.

Related post:

McConnell fighting EPA overreach

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