Murkowski to File Resolution Against EPA GHG Finding
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Dec. 14 announced her intention to file a disapproval resolution to stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
"I remain committed to reducing emissions through a policy that will protect our environment and strengthen our economy, but EPA's backdoor climate regulations achieve neither of those goals," Murkowski said. "EPA regulation must be taken off the table so that we can focus on more responsible approaches to dealing with global climate change."
While the administration claims the endangerment finding is merely an affirmation of the science behind global climate change, Murkowski said that aspect is just the tip of the iceberg.
"The EPA administrator's move has thrown open the door to expensive and intrusive government regulation ─ as far from a market-based solution as we can possibly imagine," Murkowski said. "The endangerment finding is aptly named. It endangers jobs, it endangers economic growth, and it endangers American competitiveness, while setting the stage for backdoor bureaucratic intrusion into the lives of Americans on an unprecedented scale."
Upon introduction, a disapproval resolution is referred to the committee of jurisdiction, which in this case will be the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. If the committee does not favorably report the resolution within 20 calendar days, it may be discharged upon petition by 30 senators. Once a disapproval resolution is placed on the calendar, it is then subject to expedited consideration on the Senate floor and not subject to filibuster.