The Spectacle Blog
Dems Caving In Everywhere You Turn
Rep. Earl Pomeroy, North Dakota Democrat, writes today that it's time to stop the EPA CO2 regulation madness.
Rep. Earl Pomeroy, North Dakota Democrat, writes today that he's had enough of EPA's efforts to regulate CO2:
It is time to end the irresponsible game of chicken being played with the future of energy regulation in this country. Those in favor of sweeping new regulations on our economy to address the issue of global warming are demanding that Congress quickly pass a “cap-and-trade” bill on greenhouse gas emissions or face a battery of new mandates to be developed and imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. This type of legislative extortion is not an appropriate strategy to pass any bill in Congress — especially a complicated and far-reaching cap-and-trade proposal that could have a dire impact on North Dakota.
Agencies like the EPA would normally be prohibited from jumping out in front of congressional action under the Constitution of the United States. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that the EPA can use a statute passed 20 years ago — the Clean Air Act — even though that law was written to address acid rain, not greenhouse gas emissions. Throughout this Congress, the cap-and-trade crowd has worked cheek to jowl with the EPA to try and pass this bill. Whenever a critical point in the legislative process has been reached, more rumblings would burst forth from the EPA regarding potential administrative action, just to make certain all were aware of what was in store if proposed legislation stalled out.
Looks like Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski may get more Democratic support for her motion to halt EPA than originally thought.
Hat tip: My Heartland Institute colleague Peter Fotos.
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Oldefarte| 1.27.10 @ 1:29PM
When these Democrat-terrorists cause our energy bills to quadripple in price, and then hide in the closet to avoid the public backlash; maybe Americans will finally WAKE UP to their socialist BULLEXCREMENT!!!!
Dean| 1.27.10 @ 1:33PM
A clearly rhetorical question: When Obama's EPA chief came up with this new scheme, was there governmental transparency so we could understand what was going on or was this just more shenanigans under the darkness of night?
Dave Bufalo| 1.27.10 @ 6:40PM
Well, the EPA did have an open comment period before makig a final determination that CO2 is hazardous to human health. ALthough I believe th EPA simply ignored very legitimate comments from esteemed professionals in the field.
Ted| 1.27.10 @ 1:58PM
Good for Rep. Earl Pomeroy!
Global Warming Theory is only a theory - and a theory should not have any power to hurt American business.
Mary| 1.27.10 @ 2:03PM
Thank you, Earl Pomeroy, and thank you, Senator Lisa Murkowski. It is good to see a few people in our government who care more about the American people than they care about appeasing the man-made global warming fanatics.
Pete| 1.27.10 @ 2:11PM
Mary, that may be an exaggeration. I see politicians scrambling to save their own arses, not suddenly principled representatives of the people. I am not complaining as the end result is positive regardless, I just don't give them as much credit as you do.
Tammy| 1.27.10 @ 2:25PM
I agree, Pete; looks like a simple case of cockroaches trying to scramble away from the light.
I believe it's important to remember that politicians are creatures of naked self-interest.
Mary| 2.11.10 @ 6:02AM
Pete -
Yes, you're probably right.
James| 1.27.10 @ 2:30PM
I agree with Pete. These position changes are merely part of the aftershock of the "Scott heard around the world."
Two television meteorologists I know were praying for cold weather in Europe and the East coast to damp down the human global warming extortion attempt. Winter storms are as effective as any argument we have against the scam.
martin j smith| 1.27.10 @ 3:37PM
You can thank the geniuses on our Supreme Court for this problem to begin with in regard to C02 being a pollutant. These" super scientist"s who know nothing except their ideological non-thinking have put us in the situation where our entire economy could collapse. Folks who are judges have to understand that decisions have consequences among them is the perception of voters on the courts decisions. If judges play politics then they will get what they deserve.
Bob Miller| 1.27.10 @ 4:17PM
EPA and Democrats in Congress should fight their own mental pollution as the first priority.
JanevonMises| 1.27.10 @ 4:38PM
Murkowski and Pommeroy are both from states with A LOT of oil and gas. And A LOT of citizens of those states are very happy with the high wages and great jobs that the energy industry provides (not to mention the royalties and taxes that fatten the states' coffers).
These are just pragmatic politicians who are looking to save their own rear ends. I doubt very seriously that they gave much thought to this position beyond "what can I do to best assure my continued employment"?
JP| 1.27.10 @ 4:59PM
I always thought the SCOTUS ruling was contrary to constitutional law. The orginal Clean Air Act of 1970 and the establisment of the EPA put Congress in charge of what can and cannot be regulated. CO2 was never mentioned in any law or statute. Acid Rain is derived from an directive giving the EPA powers to regulate SO2 and its different compounds. Sulfurate Dioxide is harmful to humans, plants, and animals. CO2 is not. The Courts, again have taken it upon itself to legislate.
Congress for once should put the courts in thier place, and limit thier jurisdiction.
louis vuitton| 4.26.10 @ 10:39PM
This illustrates the awkward position red- and purple-district Democrats find themselves in after a year of tough votes forced by the Obama administration and the congressional Democratic leadership. canada goose another ACORN revelation (presumably from the O'Keefe/Giles video duo) is coming tomorrow, and he characterized it as "devastating.