By Juliet Eilperin
Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-WVa.) will introduce legislation Thursday to impose a two-year moratorium on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases from power plants and other stationary emitters, a move that could undermine the Obama administration’s plan to pursue a cap on carbon emissions in the face of congressional opposition.
Rockefeller’s bill, one of several recent congressional efforts to curb the EPA’s authority to address climate change under the Clean Air Act, highlights the resistance the administration will face if it attempts to limit carbon dioxide through regulation. Obama and his top deputies have repeatedly said they would prefer for Congress to set mandatory, nationwide limits on greenhouse gas emissions, but the EPA is moving ahead with plans to do so if legislation fails to pass this year.
“Today, we took important action to safeguard jobs, the coal industry, and the entire economy as we move toward clean coal technology,” Rockefeller said. “This legislation will issue a two-year suspension on EPA regulation of greenhouse gases from stationary sources–giving Congress the time it needs to address an issue as complicated and expansive as our energy future. Congress, not the EPA, must be the ideal decision-maker on such a challenging issue.”
Republicans, too, have repeatedly tried to rein in the EPA’s climate authority–Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has introduced a resolution of disapproval that would overturn the agency’s scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, and House Republicans introduced their own version of the resolution this week. But Rockefeller’s effort is especially significant because it points to growing unease among Democrats over the prospect of the administration tackling climate change without explicit congressional approval.
Three Senate Democrats–Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Mary Landrieu (La.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.)–are co-sponsoring Murkowksi’s resolution. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn.) and Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) have introduced a similar measure, and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WVa), along with Democratic Reps. Alan Mollohan (WVa) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.), will introduce a companion bill to Rockefeller’s. In addition, Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) has introduced a measure that would strip the EPA of its authority to regulate pollution linked to global warming.
I don’t know. I think this is a case of doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. I think this is just about power, and he doesn’t want the EPA to weild that kind of power. He thinks it should be in the hands of congress. On that point I would have to say I actually agree with him. I don’t think the EPA should be able to make edicts about things like this, and it should be decided by congress. Obviously, however, that would be where our views part company. Reading the rest of the story it is clear that he believes AGW is happening, and that “greenhouse” gases should be controlled. I just think he wants to be the one doing the controlling.
Rockefeller, as many Dems, is trying to save their own skin. Obama has putting them at the edge of a political clif. I will say that if they really want to do something usefull for USA they most impose a permanent moratorium for the half of all the regulations EPA has created since its existance.
Glass always half-empty for ya, huh Neil? Another Dem goes over to the dark side (as if that’s unusual) and you still believe in some kind of Liberal conspiracy. Is it just paranoia? What?
Who said anything about a liberal conspiracy? I didn’t. I have to go now because they’re watching me, monitering my communications. Uh oh, I think I hear a black helicopter. Nope, it’s white with a red stripe, whew!
The thing about black helicopters is that we all see them. We just disagree about who’s flying them.
I have actually never seen a black helicopter. I only ever see the green ones flying in and out of Holeman field, or the life link air ambulances landing at United Hospital. Besides, all the black helicopters are now invisible!!
I actually saw one once, about a year ago. It had some kind of red insignia on the side but was too far away for me to see clearly. It did give me a couple chills down my spine for some reason.
I like the idea from the N. Dakota Rep. of stripping all power over global warming from the EPA. I can not believe it came from a Democrat though. They grow them different up there. How many people do you think would support that idea?
I don’t know Hal, if you read what it says: “Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) has introduced a measure that would strip the EPA of its authority to regulate pollution linked to global warming.” This says to me that he believes that CO2 is “pollution”. And “linked” to global warming, suggests that he believes in AGW. So I’m going to stick to my original thought which is they want to be the ones doing the regulating. You see, the EPA doesn’t have a re-election to win, and the polititians that believe this nonsense want to be seen as our saviors. I predict taking this course will backfire on them, however, because I predict by November the number of people who believe in AGW will have dwindled to just a fanatic few (I hope, fingers crossed on that)
Gosh- A DEMOCRAT acting like a Republican !!!! Stop the presses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that the presses are stopped, care to expand on that? How is this a Dem acting like a Republican?I know I’m probably too dim to get it. Too narrow-minded to grasp the nuances of your jibe. I just can’t think of an analogy.
I think you do get it Neil. And if you are too “dim” which I doubt, well then I’m just sorry about that.
So, you can’t explain it. Thought so.
It’s not the EPA, it is the idiots that are put in there to “manage” the agency. There are some regulations that need to be enforced for which I assume that we all agree. As to this one? You have got to be kidding me! “Horse manure” they called it when I was a child. I think they use different words today.
Hal and Paul you’re very correct, but EPA is a mounster that create stupid and very expensive regulations since its existence. Since 1954 the number of regulation in USA has increased from 16’502 to more than 300’000. The cost of administrating all these regulations reached the 500 billion in 1992 and today more than 40 % of American drop in industrial productivity could be traced to EPA regulations. As example the Clean Act of 1990 costed 4 billion a year and the benefits came in at just 100 millions. So in my opinion EPA has been anti-American since its creation.
Talk about bull-crap. Thanks reverse troll “Cuban” dude… nice job. Funny that Paul hasn’t demanded your true identity. Your slipping Paul.
Never, ever under estimate your adversary my friend. I know more than you think. The EPA ruling could choke off business. Do you know what you are talking about? Absent your consistent “cut and paste,” you have no personal involvement nor knowledge for which you speak. tell me why I’m wrong all knowing one.
Paul, did you noticed he dedicate me the last 3 postings? Poor guy. I will not use one single minute on him.
I am a poor guy, you got that right. It’s cute how you all band together. And as far as the EPA “choking off business”, hasn’t business done a pretty good job of that all by itself? Paying attention are we??!!
Class warfare? You need two sides engaged for warfare. The American people are NOT engaged by any leap of the imagination. Personal sacrifice and risk for the good of the whole in our current culture? Finding common ground across a large part of the population to engage? Yes, this is what we need that is OUR responsibility. We have not done so, our failure. See, unlike you all, I know I have contributed to the current state and been complicit in many ways. By knowing this I can take personal responsibility and initiate action to change first and foremost my short-comings and then try and convince others to do the same and hopefully from the bottom up contribute to positive change.
Ideological hegemony is the process by which the exploited come to view the world through a conceptual framework provided to them by their exploiters. It acts first of all to conceal class conflict and exploitation behind a smokescreen of “national unity” or “general welfare.” Those who point to the role of the state as guarantor of class privilege are denounced, in theatrical tones of moral outrage, for “class warfare.” If anyone is so unpardonably “extremist” as to describe the massive foundation of state intervention and subsidy upon which corporate capitalism rests, he is sure to be rebuked for it (sound familiar?).
The ideological framework of “national unity” is taken to the point that “this country,” “society,” or “our system of government” is set up as an object of gratitude for “the freedoms we enjoy.” Only the most “unpatriotic” notice that our liberties, far from being granted to us by a generous and benevolent elite, were won by past resistance against those in power. Charters and bills of rights were not grants from the power elite, but were forced from the masses below.
http://www.mutualist.org/id4.html
THE IRON FIST BEHIND THE INVISIBLE HAND
Corporate Capitalism As a State-Guaranteed System of Privilege
by Kevin A. Carson
I wonder if Mr. Carson is aware of your unauthorized, unsourced, and uncredited use of his material? Of course being the Mutualist Anarchist that he is, he probably does not care.
And, it does sound like Marxist class war rhetoric to me……. because that’s what it is!!!!!!!! It’s all BS!!! It’s all opinion, with no basis in actual fact.
See that’s what I mean Rob, you read this BS and think it means something, and you accept it without any critical thinking applied to it. That’s not being open minded. That’s called being gullable.
For example. In the introduction the author states “Capitalism was founded on an act of robbery as massive as feudalism. It has been sustained to the present by continual state intervention to protect its system of privilege, without which its survival is unimaginable.” But does he say what that “act of robbery” was? No, he just says it! There is no expansion on what is meant by that. But you buy it hook, line, and sinker because it fits the template of your beliefs, and from that point on you probably read it believing every word.
But all it is is theory, and opinion from academics, most of whom have probably never held a job, or owned any kind of company. I bet most of the authors cited in this work never had to work for a dime, and probably had some kind of trust fund, or financial backer, with money that came originally from a capitalist endeavour!
Rob, you really have an open mind, but an unfiltered open mind usually is full of garbage.
So just how does this tie into “Rockefeller Pushes to Reign In The EPA”? Oh, wait…… It doesn’t!
I’m like Cubanshamoo. You abide by the rules and work hard and it will come. If you don’t, you will feel probably be a person that should be entitled to what WE earned, not you. Get with it called real life. Work for your dreams and they should come.
Neil wrote: “Rob, you really have an open mind, but an unfiltered open mind usually is full of garbage.” Thanks Neil, I was laughing for some nice minutes, you make my day. I love that sentence and if I use it once again I will give you the copyright :-))))
Feel free! That is something my dad used to say, and I’m sure he didn’t come up with it. It is a simple truism. No copyrights involved, it is public domain;-)
It is true Paul, hard work and accepting not only the rules, but the new culture in which you will like to integrate, because as an immigrant everything sounds at the beginning hostile, extremely hostile, then with the time, you realize that you arrived to a prosperous country because the people of that country have a real culture of work. However, nothing like USA, in which after 9/11, I was able to flight “north bound” FREELY, without plan, because the only think Americans will never give up is their freedom. That was one of the biggest lessons in my life.
“Freedom” my friend, is “The reason.” You have learned that and American’s live it and We will never give it up! Welcome home.
You’re right Paul. Me and other Liberals are sick and tired of our freedoms. Just sick of it! We are busy subverting our freedoms, just cuz!
Ending my time on this site. Questions never addressed and I will take out my frustrations at the poll come November. All I can say is that it is a sorry time to be an American with the representatives that you/we have elected. Hopefully God will be with us in the difficult years going forward. Bigger fish to fry in my life. Enough said. Enjoy your constant bickering discourse. Later Neil, Dan and Cubashamoo. Continue in your journey.
Sad you leave Paul, please, if you are planing to visit the Alps one day don’t hesitate to ask Dan for my e-mail, then bring lot of warming clothes, here there is not GW in sight :-))))
The “ALPS”??!! But jeez Cuban dude, I thought you liked our USofA so much… WTF man?! Although any country without George W sounds like a good one to me!
No good-buy for me Paul?! That’s not very nice.
Sounds of tears falling and one hand clapping…
the sound of tears falling and one hand clapping…
Seriously Paul, I wish you well, and I think obsessing less is best for good health, etc. I should try to take my own advice.
P.S. please don’t send your CIA friends after me. Thanks.
My friend, obsessions can become problems. Suggest that you take a break and think deeply before you write, ponder, react. I’m guilty as well. Deep thoughts before responding does wonders for the soul. Take care. I never did say good bye to my adversary did I? Good bye and remember to VOTE come November my friend.
I still don’t know which set of corporate fascists I should be voting for…
All I can say is Vote your conscience. Enough said.
Ok- Green it is.
It’s a start.
The Green Party and the Libertarians should work together and unite on common interests. I believe something like that is possible. It’s also necessary.
Anythings possible only if you vote.
First…I do not support the current adm in anyway shape or form. That being said I’d like to point out the right are infact denying the truth about GW to the point they are twisting the truth and reaching. This alone is hurting the credibility of the conservative movement. For example: the link that brought me here was the YouTube video of Lord Mockton claiming to of read a treaty that Obama was going to sign in I believe Germany. The truth is he could not of read it because it had not infact even been wrote yet and to my knowlage nothing has been signed to date. Come on guys…real conservatives do not need to stoop to truth twisting.
You are a bit behind in the news. Monckton had read a draft of the treaty prior to the conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. I also read the draft before the conference. It definately existed, and contained numerous optional provisions. Ultimately, Copenhagen (Cop-15) ended with no treaty being signed. Most likely largely because the alram bells were ringing around the globe – thanks in part to Lord Monckton. Keep reading here. You’ll learn stuff.