Rogue Democrats propose new roadblock for EPA carbon rules

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing a further challenge to its right to regulate carbon emissions, after two senior Democrats in the House of Representatives defied the Obama Administration to file a resolution that would block the agency's plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Congressmen Ike Skelton and Collin Peterson joined Republican Jo Ann Emerson last week to table a resolution of disapproval challenging the EPA's ruling that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health and can be regulated under the existing Clean Air Act.

The resolution is identical to that set out by Republican senator Lisa Murkowski, who is expected to force a Senate vote on her proposal later this month.

The White House has signalled it will oppose attempts to strip the EPA of its right to regulate carbon emissions, which it regards as a vital 'Plan B' for tackling rising emissions should the Senate continue to block the passage of a specific climate change bill.

As a result, the support of a number of Democrats for the resolution was heralded as a major coup for those opposed to the EPA's move.

Murkowski said in a statement that Skelton and Peterson's support proved there was bi-partisan backing for action against the EPA. "The administration has urged members of Congress to work together and across party lines," she said. "This action adds to the evidence that we are doing just that, and we do not want the EPA imposing economically harmful climate regulations. Energy and environmental policies should be developed in Congress, where the best interests of the American people can be represented."

Her office also revealed that it had 41 Senate co-sponsors for the measure, including three Democrats, leaving it just 10 short of the 51 votes the resolution would require.

Murkowski's comments were echoed by Peterson, who said the resolution was designed to stop the EPA acting without the approval of elected officials. "The EPA is trying to use unwarranted regulatory action to go after greenhouse gas emissions without seeking Congressional approval," he said. "The Clean Air Act was never meant to be used for this, but they’re trying to do it anyway so Congress needs to act. Most everyone I’ve heard from about this thinks that elected officials — not EPA bureaucrats — should decide how to address our energy problems."

Peterson, Skelton and Emerson had previously tabled changes to the Clean Air Act that would explicitly stop greenhouse gases being regulated through the legislation. But the group insisted that a disapproval motion was also necessary as it offered a swifter means of stopping the EPA from using its new powers.