Rep. Jerry Lewis to EPA: We’ll gut your funding (Opening Salvo)

Hotair ^ | 11/30/2010 | Ed Morrissey

[SeekAndFind]

Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) wants to get the chair of Appropriations once Republicans take control of the House, and he’s campaigning hard to demonstrate his commitment to conservative causes. In an attempt to move the conversation away from earmarking, Lewis has fixed his sights on the EPA and its “arbitrary interpretations of the Clean Air Act,” warning EPA head Lisa Jackson that he intends on stripping the agency of funding for her climate-change agenda:

Rep. Jerry Lewis is hoping to strengthen his bid to chair the House Appropriations Committee by threatening to strip funding from the Obama administration’s controversial environmental rules.

The California Republican vying for the gavel of the powerful spending panel sent a letter Monday to the Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson warning that the GOP-led House plans to strip funding for agency regulations and conduct “unprecedented levels of oversight,” with a particular focus on the administration’s climate change policies.

“In addition to scrutinizing the agency’s entire FY 2012 budget, with particular attention on the agency’s rulemaking process, the House Appropriations Committee will be exercising its prerogative to withhold funding for prospective EPA regulations and de-fund through the rescissions process many of those already on the books,” wrote Lewis, who chaired the spending panel in 2005 and 2006.

Specifically, Lewis said he wants to target EPA’s “ongoing arbitrary interpretation of the Clean Air Act” to begin regulating greenhouse gases in January. He said he will refuse to support federal funding to regulate greenhouse gases in the 112th Congress “unless Congress passes bipartisan energy legislation specifically providing the authority to do so.”

Lewis also signaled plans to target EPA agricultural regulations dealing with spilled milk on dairy farms, airborne dust, lawn fertilizer and arsenic in ground water.

Lewis might get a chance to do something about the FY2011 budget, too, if Democrats don’t stop focusing on the DREAM Act and other nonsense. They have just three weeks to pass a full budget, but instead they’re discussing the remainder of the progressive wish-list agenda. If they don’t act to create a full budget by the end of the session — one which Republicans will allow to proceed in the Senate — then the chair of Appropriations will have a lot more immediate impact on the EPA’s ambitions on climate change.

That’s not likely to change no matter whether Lewis or John Kingston gets the chair. Reining in the EPA will be a high priority for business-minded Republicans, and funding will be the manner in which they yank the leash. The Senate doesn’t have enough Democrats to force the House to fully fund the EPA, especially since so many Democrats will have to stand for re-election in 2012, especially in Midwestern and southern states that rely on agriculture for their economy. Defending Jackson now or later in 2011 will have deep ramifications for politicians like Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jon Tester, and Jim Webb.

[NRG1973]

Isn’t this guy, Jerry Lewis a RINO? It seems to me that he is talking tough but I’m waiting for tomorrow’s headline, “GOP Congressman Jerry Lewisa grees to expand role of EPA in America”.

Why do we let RINO’s in the party?

[NRG1973]

Isn’t this guy, Jerry Lewis a RINO? It seems to me that he is talking tough but I’m waiting for tomorrow’s headline, “GOP Congressman Jerry Lewis agrees to expand role of EPA in America”.

Why do we let RINO’s in the party?

[farmguy]

As soon as the Democrats dig up that old Indian dude with the tear coming down his cheek the Repubs will fold.

He's dead Jim.

[VRW Conspirator]

REPEAL the Environmental Protection Act of 1971...

(sniff) beau-i-ful (sniff)

[Foolsgold]

The endangered fresh water smelt, is being pumped into the ocean, and I don't think a Fresh Water fish can survive in salt water.
Ingredients

1 to 2 lb. of cleaned smelt oil for deep-frying 2 cups flour

2 lemons, cut in half salt and pepper

Directions

1. Rinse smelt, and roll in a towel to dry. Spread Smelt on a large piece of wax paper.
2. Liberally salt and pepper them.
3. Pour one cup of flour over the fish; using both hands, gently toss the Smelt in the flour. Let stand for at least 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat at least 3 inches of oil to 375°.
5. Just before frying the Smelt, pour on more flour. The first coating of flour will appear sticky, so this second coating should give you a completely dry surface for frying.
6. Plunge the Smelt, a few at a time, into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan, or the temperature of the heat will reduce and cooking time will be increased, causing a greasy product.
7. When the Smelt turn a dark-golden color, remove and place in a baking dish lined with paper towels; keep in a warm oven while frying the remaining Smelt.
8. Sprinkle the Smelt with salt, and serve with spotted owl.

[krb]

Wow! I totally appreciate your verve on this topic!

[Enterprise]

The 20th covers south of Bakersfield in Kern County, Kings County, and Western Fresno County. In the voting, Kern County went for Costa, Kings went HUGE for Vidak, and Western Fresno County went for COSTA! UNFREAKINGBELIEVEABLE! Western Fresno County suffered huge economic damage because of the Democrats, but they voted for him anyway.

Who knows how redistricting will play out though. If the lines are drawn that eliminate either Kern or Western Fresno County from the district, then Vidak has a real shot at taking it next time. However, if Western Fresno County and Kern County are still in the district, then Costa will be reelected.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !EPA: An unelected, flunky bureaucracy populated with radical, no-growth, Marxist, environmental nut-jobs wielding rogue powers based in junk science. A cancer on the private sector. Ultimately, the EPA is not about the environment. It is about legislating from the Executive Branch in Soviet Agency style. It has the convenient unconstitutional feature of allowing the Obama Administration to pursue an extreme global warming agenda, to make energy prices necessarily sky-rocket, and gain sweeping regulatory control over the US economy without a politically difficult vote in congress.

Action against EPA abuse of power by private enterprise:

• CEI: CEI, Science Groups Petition EPA to Reconsider Increasingly Dubious Global Warming “Endangerment” Finding
• CEI: New Lawsuit, Petition Challenge EPA Global Warming Regulations
• PEC: World’s biggest coal company brings U.S. government to court in climate fraud
• PEC: World’s biggest coal company brings U.S. government to court in climate fraud
• CEI, NAM, API, CRA, OCA, UARG, etc.: 16 'Endangerment' Lawsuits Filed Against EPA Before Deadline
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: U.S. Chamber lawsuit attacks basis for EPA emissions limits
• PLF: Pacific Legal Foundation sues EPA for C02 “endangerment” finding without scientific review

Action against EPA abuse of power by state/federal government:

• TX: Hey EPA: Don’t Mess with Texas
• TX: A Green Tea Party
• TX: Texas, Skeptics Seek Court Review of EPA's 'Endangerment' Finding
• TX: Texas sues EPA over anti-pollution plan
• TX: Texas to challenge US greenhouse gas rules
• TX: UPDATE 1-Texas to challenge US greenhouse gas rules
• TX: Governor Rick Perry To Sue the EPA
• TX: Texas Fight! What Other States Can Learn from Texas vs U.S. EPA
• VA: Cuccinelli, Virginia Attorney General Challenges EPA on Greenhouse Gas
• VA: Va. challenges EPA's stance on global warming
• VA: Virginia challenges EPA ruling on greenhouse gases
• VA: Video: Virginia AG Tells EPA To Go Back To The Drawing Board Over Globaloney
• VA: Cuccinelli seeks to block EPA’s global-warming petition Attorney general disputes climate change...
• VA: Cuccinelli Fights the EPA
• VA: EPA, Countering Critics of Greenhouse Gas Findings, Says 'Science Is Settled'
• VA: Newly-Elected Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli: Activist!
• UT, TX, VA: Texas, Utah, Virginia Sue over Fraudulent Glo-Bull Warming
• AL, TX, VA: Three States Sue EPA Over Global Warming Ruling
• MS: Barbour Lobbies Fellow Governors to Oppose EPA Regulations
• AK: Alaska senator moves to strip EPA's authority
• FL, IN, SC, VA, TX, AL et al: US states sue EPA to stop greenhouse gas rules [FL, IN, SC, VA, TX, AL...]
• Fed: Effort To Block EPA Greenhouse Ruling Now Bipartisan
• Fed: Senior Democrats floating bill to block EPA on plans for greenhouse gas rules
• Fed: US Reps from Mo. to propose blocking EPA gas rules
• Fed: Democrat slow learners wake up to EPA power grab ( CO2 Gas is a pollutant?)
• Fed: House Democrats challenge EPA on greenhouse gases
• Fed: Helter-Skelton: Key Lawmaker Reverses On Climate Action
• Fed: House GOP targets EPA rules
• Fed: US Sen. Rockefeller seeks EPA carbon rule delay

Action in support of EPA abuse of power:

• NYC et al: CLIMATE: States seek to intervene in challenge to EPA's endangerment finding

---

☆☆ States Officially Rejecting Anthropogenic Global Warming

☆ Utah
☆ Arizona

[Enterprise]

Deserves a huge BUMP. Gutting isn’t enough. Eliminate the ENTIRE agency!

[tacticalogic]

100%

Better but not near 100%. He says he wants to defund them until Congress authorizes them to make those regulations. Unless you believe in the New Deal "living document" Commerce Clause, that authority is not theirs to give.

[Jim Noble]

Action in support of EPA abuse of power

Stop calling it "abuse of power".

The EPA functions as designed, and it cannot be fixed,

Its very design eliminates popular sovereignty and usurps both legislative and judicial powers.

It is not possible for EPA to exercise power non-abusively, its very existence is an abuse.

Repeal is the only answer.

[Dick Bachert]

No, no, no.
Jerry needs to KEEP THEM as I suspect he will put them to far better use than Cantor.

[sergeantdave]

“It must be uprooted and the branches cast into the flames.”

That’s a good start, Jim. Though I’d include tar, feathers, scaffolds with 13 steps and plenty of rope. The entire EPA is thick with traitorous gestapo insects.

[A Strict Constructionist]

“As soon as the Democrats dig up that old Indian dude with the tear coming down his cheek the Repubs will fold.”

LOL, I’d forgotten that bit of hokum. Lindsey will lead with his own teary eyes, the wimp.

[Jim Noble]

"Iron Eyes Cody" was actually Italian, a worthy predecessor to Ward Churchill.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sounds good...for a target,...maybe a chance in 2012.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

He represents a district in the area of Southern California known as the inland Empire...portions of San Bernandino County and of Riverside County.

mostly conservative....

[SunkenCiv]

We’ve just now got the election behind us, and within really a very few months the, uh, excitement of the next campaign will start to build.

[SunkenCiv]

Finally! Wanna hand billions to black “farmers” as “reparations”? Gotta be revenue-neutral, and the cuts come out of the Demwits’ constituents. There also needs to be a draconian federal entertainment industry tax, maybe $50 a word.

[Ladysmith]

Smelt! yum!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjnelson/4513782296/in/set-72157623835159664/