Texas to Challenge US Greenhouse Gas Rules

dontmess-texasTexas suit one of several to challenge EPA

By Ed Stoddard

Texas and several national industry groups on Tuesday filed separate petitions in federal court challenging the government’s authority to regulate U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Texas, which leads U.S. states in carbon dioxide emissions due to its heavy concentration of oil refining and other industries, will see a major impact if U.S. mandatory emissions reductions take effect.

In December, the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide endanger human health, opening the door for the agency to issue mandatory regulations to reduce them.

Texas said it had filed a petition for review challenging the EPA’s “endangerment finding” with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Texas has also asked the EPA to reconsider its ruling.

“The EPA’s misguided plan paints a big target on the backs of Texas agriculture and energy producers and the hundreds of thousands of Texans they employ,” Texas Gov. Rick Perry said.

The National Association of Manufacturers, the American Petroleum Institute, and the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association also said on Tuesday they filed a petition challenging the EPA in federal appeals court.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. iron and steel makers have also signaled they would file lawsuits.

Read the rest or this story at Reuters.

34 Responses to Texas to Challenge US Greenhouse Gas Rules

  1. Hal Groar February 18, 2010 at 10:20 pm #

    Don’t mess with Texas. I hope these lawsuits hammer the EPA into submission. Make the EPA prove their point! They will not be able to!

  2. Cubanshamoo February 20, 2010 at 2:18 am #

    I will recommend to all interested a couple of books from a late liberal politician with a serious commitment for science, the good science.
    These two books are old now, but they are extremely well written and still very actual. The author is Dixy Lee Ray and the books are: “Trashing the planet” and “Enviromental Overkill”. Since that time (80’s) the agenda of EPA was already clear: to destroy the US sovereignty and pass the control of US land management to the UN. Ray describes the process and conspiratory policies of EPA in a very clear manner.

  3. ron from Texas February 20, 2010 at 8:03 am #

    This is and has been a states’ rights issue, masquerading as environmentalism. The EPA is not even constitutionally protected. And the people in it are not elected but appointed by whatever admin is in power. If Obama wants a civil war, then he’s got one.

  4. c wilson February 20, 2010 at 2:49 pm #

    Lisa Jackson said in her reply to the state of Virginia that she was going to continue using common sense, that is continue breaking the law. I don’t think she was even aware of Texas’ filing. The difference between Tex. and Virginia is Tex. Attorney General explained the laws she was breaking in terms that even she or an 8th grader can understand.

  5. Neil F. AGWD/BSD February 20, 2010 at 9:29 pm #

    This just makes me giddy. Finally somebody has the balls to stand up to this bogus bullcrap. Texas, I am not suprized. Certainly living up to your reputation, that’s for sure. I have not heard about Virginia. Can someone tell me what happened, or what they did?

  6. Rob N. Hood February 22, 2010 at 9:00 am #

    I think that maybe each State should be it’s own “country”. This would reduce the Feds role in many areas, and even reduce, I think, the amount of money needed to do what the Federal part of the govt. that is necessary. What that would be exactly I don’t know. People would then create the type of local government they want.

    I know this will never happen though. The elite have a tight control on everything- political processes, military, and corporate power ($$$).

    One potential problem would be that if (when) an individual State trashed its environment, the residents would want to abandon it and go to the neighboring State and then trash that too. OTH, maybe it would make people more responsible for their locality, and take better care of it. I don’t know… It would be nice though to try it.

    • Dan McGrath March 11, 2010 at 3:49 pm #

      What you are describing is federalism. It’s the way our nation was established to operate. Yours is also the conservative position. Liberals push for centralization and consoldation of power.

      • Rob N. Hood March 12, 2010 at 8:11 am #

        True perhaps, Dan. I’m not a constitutional or any other kind of historian. Your point that we have somethings in common, or potentially in common, has been my point all along. Many Libs are becoming so frustrated and disappointed that some of us are ready to experiment with our so-called democracy, and the fact that many States seem to be dragging us down in one way or another, that something extreme like this idea is not so extreme for the general public as some may think. I beleive that if we (true Liberals and some on the Right) could leave aside certain differences we could become a powerful political bloc. But the powers that be know this all too well, and do many things to keep us apart.

        That is what frustrates me the most, I think. And sites like these don’t help. They could, but as currently configured they do just the opposite unfortunately. And you are guilty of that offense. It also seems that neither you nor many others with the resources to effect real positive change and solidarity choose not to. Same old sad story…

        • Dan March 12, 2010 at 9:55 am #

          The “true” liberals (or classical liberals) have gone over to the Republican party – a long time ago. The Democrats have become the party of power for the sake of it. The hodge podge coalition of special interest groups that drives the Democrat agenda have corrupted the party beyond recognition in the past 3 decades or so.

          Those of us on the “right” put individual liberty first. Live and let live is the general rule. That’s “liberal” in the classical sense. Fiscal responsibility in government, limited government intrusion in our lives and preservation of our rights are the tennents of conservatism.

  7. Rob N. Hood February 22, 2010 at 10:06 am #

    I for one would fully support Texas’ cessesstion. Bring it on !!

  8. Lone Wolf February 22, 2010 at 10:33 pm #

    A state demanding 10th amendment authority is not cessation.

  9. paul wenum February 22, 2010 at 10:37 pm #

    Troll you are a Troll you will be.

  10. Rob N. Hood February 23, 2010 at 8:15 am #

    They’ve talked about it, as have other States. I realize it is almost a fantasy for that to really happen, but I am not making up that sentiment. It is real for a lot of people, and I for one wouldn’t stand in their way. Would you? That would be true States Rights, eh? Isn’t that really what a true Libertarian would want for his/her State? I beleive so, and I’m saying I don’t disagree with that. So now you will argue with me about this too, eh? They call that Defiant Disorder, however it is only used for children. But sometimes it seems to fit some of you.

  11. Cubanshamoo February 23, 2010 at 10:32 am #

    No Paul, is Alzheimer, don’t waste your time. I just jump over Kevin Costner to read the others. For me he is pure empty prose, empty brain, and an empty pocket. This guy have no future, no body to talk to, no one who care for him.

  12. Paul Wenum February 23, 2010 at 8:46 pm #

    It will never happen in my day eh? You must be from Canada. Eh? Eh, Robbie Boy?

  13. Cubanshamoo February 24, 2010 at 1:23 am #

    No, I will say he’s from Chicago

  14. paul wenum February 25, 2010 at 12:04 am #

    I like that! Like a dead fish in a newspaper? Been there done that. (Ate smoked fish in newspaper). Have a brass hammer on my desk. Won’t go there. Just kidding! However I still have my hammer and it has a screwdriver in it as well.

  15. Rob N. Hood February 25, 2010 at 9:46 am #

    You guys are amazing. Simply amazing.

  16. Paul Wenum February 25, 2010 at 8:33 pm #

    “Ron N Hood” or whomever you are, you amaze me.

  17. Rob N. Hood February 26, 2010 at 4:27 pm #

    So you aren’t for States rights? And if you are, to the degree that most on the Right APPEAR to be be, wouldn’t cessestion be the ultimate prize? Plus if it didn’t work out so well, which it wouldn’t, we could let them back into the union- either that or bomb them back to the stone age, as they say… That usually works too.

  18. Paul Wenum February 26, 2010 at 10:37 pm #

    Your comments are simply amazing. Sal Alinsky is extremely proud of you. You are an excellent student. I’m a fisherman but I don’t take the bait.

  19. Rob N. Hood February 27, 2010 at 8:50 am #

    Tired of reacting robotically? Once a ditto-head always a ditto-head? As if your side doesn’t use “Alinsky” tactics. They do, and are pretty darn good at it too. You have used them as well. So what? It’s called debating. But it takes at least two people, not just one robot.

  20. Paul Wenum February 27, 2010 at 9:49 pm #

    I notice a tail between your legs.

    • Rob N. Hood March 4, 2010 at 1:11 pm #

      Thanks for noticing, but please don’t stare.

  21. Rob N. Hood February 28, 2010 at 9:08 am #

    I hope you guys are right about this issue. If so you can at least say that you were right about something. Oh wait, I forgot – you are Right about everything.

  22. paul wenum February 28, 2010 at 11:45 pm #

    You always have a caustic statement at the end. Never fails. When I’m wrong, I admit it. When you are corrected, your fingers point back at you, however you continue to point that one finger at us out of vain. Why? I think I know why, however will not comment further.

  23. Rob N. Hood March 1, 2010 at 9:02 am #

    Well, aren’t you Right and right about everything? You even say so yourself. Stop being such a big baby. (now That’s caustic…see the difference???!!!!)

  24. paul wenum March 1, 2010 at 11:41 pm #

    No. If I was right all the time I would be the Creator.

  25. Rob N. Hood March 4, 2010 at 1:10 pm #

    What have You ever been wrong about? Nothing related to this site apparently…

  26. paul wenum March 5, 2010 at 12:19 am #

    In life, I’m right 1/2 the time the other half I’m wrong. Your point is?

  27. Rob N. Hood March 5, 2010 at 7:48 am #

    That on this site you (and some others) have never indicated any hesitation, middle-ground, or change of heart about Anything. That’s all the point was.

  28. paul wenum March 5, 2010 at 9:54 pm #

    It’s called believing in your convictions and never backing down no matter the adversity. Simple as that.

  29. Rob N. Hood March 7, 2010 at 6:56 pm #

    Hmmmm. Yes, wow. As I’ve said before, that is definitely a form of strength. Not of wisdom, unfortunately… but yes, definitely strength. But only in the short term, usually. See history for more on that…

  30. paul wenum March 14, 2010 at 2:01 am #

    Deep thinkers never get out of their hole. Have fun looking for the light which gets dimmer by the day. As to climate change, the hole is getting deeper by the day and Gore it trying to shovel like hell to attempt to keep the hole open for us suckers to fall into! Fortunately, we saw the light and struggled out before we got buried!

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