Posted on 07/23/2014 12:25:46 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Senate Republicans on Wednesday accused Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy of trying to run America by proposing new rules to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants.
McCarthy is the public face of the agency's new carbon rules, which are a central pillar of President Obama's second-term climate change agenda. Republicans say the rules threaten to bring the economy to its knees, and on Wednesday, accused the EPA of staging a massive power grab.
"The American people run this country — you don't run this country," Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) told McCarthy during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing.
Republicans sought to poke holes in the proposal, which mandates states cut carbon dioxide emissions 30 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels, by tethering it to environmentalists and alleging that the EPA did not seek input from the coal industry or utilities that would be impacted the most.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) pressed the administrator on a New York Times report that credited the green group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for providing the blueprint the EPA used to craft its carbon emissions standards.
Additional reports have found comparisons between the NRDC's plan to cut pollution from the nation's fleet of power plants and the one proposed by the EPA. The agency says it met with thousands of stakeholders to develop the rules.
Barrasso wasn't convinced.
"For those of you who don't know, the NRDC is a $120 million-a-year lobbying machine backed by Hollywood elites," Barrasso said.
"It is absolutely shameful to me that the EPA under the direction of this administrator would allow a group of lawyers and lobbyists to draft their regulations," he said. "If I'm wrong than NRDC and EPA administrator should provide all documents requested by this committee on how these new regulations on coal-fired power plants were crafted, because right now, it sure looks like the EPA let a trio of high powered of Washington lobbyists write their regulations for them."
Following the Times report, McCarthy sent out a staff memo mocking the newspaper, calling the story "preposterous."
"I will guarantee you that I have met many more times with utilities than NRDC," McCarthy said in response to Barrasso. She said EPA staff got little sleep during the process, and dismissed the notion that the rule was designed "miraculously" months ago and that the EPA has had it in its pocket since then.
McCarthy stressed that the rules allow states a great amount of flexibility to find the best method for meeting reduction targets.
"It is designed to be moderate in its ask," McCarthy said.
"We are setting a course on climate change that is long term and flexible; we are sending a tremendous investment signal. This is not about a scrubber at the end of a smokestack; it is about investing in things that we care about," McCarthy said.
Senate Democrats praised McCarthy for the rules, which the agency says would protect public health and prevent up to 150,000 asthma attacks.
The EPA is currently in the midst of its 120-day comment period to allow stakeholders time to submit feedback on the new standards.
The agency has said it would finalize the regulations by the summer of 2015, but a number of industry groups are weighing legal action, and nine states have already sued the EPA over its proposal.
No Jeff Sessions, you freakin butthead, they DO RUN THE COUNTRY, because idiots like you and other Demicrap socialist tripe light types have allowed them to grab the power to do so. And we STILL see almost no leadership from the Democrat light party willing to stand up to them and DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL!
Doesn't matter even if they did, because if they did, then after doing so, they still listened to the stupid, agenda-driven people instead of the ones who know what they're talking about. Half the time, industry involvement in stuff like this is blackmailed anyway with threats like "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu", but really only done so they can claim support for the shafting from the shaftees.
I will guarantee you that those utilities weren't begging him "please: shut us down!"
“Is that a campfire? Well, I am sorry to say folks but under code 1.27.65.B you are in violation of the law. Please just give the officer your Social Security number so we can garnish your wages. Thanks for your cooperation.”
Abolish about half the federal alphabet agencies and bureaus, and that’s just a good start.
(You too, NSA.)
How quaint.
Sessions needs to follow Australia’s lead and introduce a bill to ban the carbon credit stuff altogether
The country has allowed to many agency’s accountable to no one to make rules and level fines. This is just an example of one that should have its nuts cut. It’s a great place to start, but don’t just make grandstanding statements, do something Jeff. We’re behind you. Do something !
"Why, yes it is, Mr. EPA-hole. And this is my Ithaca Mag 10. Any other questions?"
Senator, the way to tell her that is to zero out the EPA's funding.
The Repubs have had four years — FOUR YEARS — to make the Dems pay for their ongoing crimes. Score: zero. The Dems are laughing.
Except they do... because NO ONE will do anything to stop Obama & Co.
They’ve always been able to promulgate regulations and levy fines, but when they say they want to go straight from fining to garnishing wages—yeah, there’s still something called `due process’ for now ...
Even the IRS allows a hearing, even if it is pro forma—or as serious as their current “nominal investigation” of themselves.
The EPA has become more powerful each year for forty years, since Nixon. They all have grown strong: the IRS particularly. Look at the contemptuous way they treat Congress over allegations that the IRS was being used as a political arm of one party.
And keep in mind that Congress made them, while we made Congress.
But the Dept. of Health and Human Services is going to dwarf them all if Obamacare takes root. So we need to concentrate on strangling this little monster in its crib.
Then `decrapitate’ the rest, one after another. We can’t afford these administrative jackhandles, even if they weren’t hostile to the American middle class.
Unfortunately there are only a handful of men in the GOP serious about conserving the America we cherish; so I’m making my own plans, as are a lot of serious freepers.
That’s pretty tragic, isn’t it? That we’re like `Midnight Express’ now: like Billy in a Turkish prison.
No outside help, except for one another and others outside the FR community like us. We’re on our own, FRiend.
Stepping off soapbox.
Yes they do run the country and the GOP refuses to defund the EPA. It would be a service to America to just lay them all off and close it down.
EPA-holes. Too funny.
Jeff sessions is one the good guys and a solid conservative. May wish to direct your vent elsewhere. Good grief.
Elections have consequences. If a socialist is elected to the highest office, don't blame Sessions for not having enough power to topple him.
Every freaking republican should be out DAILY railing at town halls and on local new broadcast SCREAMING about this kind of crap, yet...nothing.... Where is the legislation and where are they making the case? (crickets) Nope, we have folks playing patty cake while our country is being subverted and the band plays on......
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