Posted on 12/27/2010 12:41:21 PM PST by SeekAndFind
And so it begins, and on the most fertile red-state territory in the nation. Texas, which got four more seats in the House through the 2010 Census reapportionment, has had its air-quality rules superceded by the EPA as part of its aggressive new action on carbon emissions. Governor Rick Perry promises a fight:
The federal Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday effectively declared Texas unfit to regulate its owngreenhouse gas emissions and took over carbon dioxide permitting of any new or expanding industrial facilities starting Jan. 2.
The EPA also set up a framework for regulating greenhouse gas emissions in seven other states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon and Wyoming. In addition, the agency set a timetable on establishing regulated levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
The action will give the EPA permitting authority over refineries, power plants and cement facilities in Texas, the agency said, but will not affect small pollution source facilities, such as restaurants and farms.
Well, perhaps not directly, but the increase in energy prices and shortages created by the EPA imposition of what will essentially be carbon taxes will impact businesses throughout the Texas economy, as well as consumers who ultimately pay the costs of the regulatory regime. Rick Perry has signaled a court fight to stop the EPA and the Obama administration:
Texas is the only state that has refused to implement the new rules. President Barack Obama is pressing ahead with the regulations after Congress failed to pass legislation capping carbon emissions. Perry, a Republican, calls the rules overreaching by the federal government that will cripple his state’s economy.
“The EPA’s misguided plan paints a huge target on the backs of Texas agriculture and energy producers by implementing unnecessary, burdensome mandates on our state’s energy sector, threatening hundreds of thousands of Texas jobs and imposing increased living costs on Texas families,” Katherine Cesinger, a Perry spokeswoman, said in an e-mailed statement.
The timing is certainly interesting. The EPA made this move two days before Christmas, when most people had stopped paying attention to political news. The EPA’s move thus got missed by most of the national media, even though it demonstrates well the Obama strategy in 2011 to win through regulation what it could not win through legislation. And by focusing on Texas, where Republicans have a chance to redistrict with practically no interference from Democrats, the move will certainly incentivize the GOP to limit as much as possible the representation of Democrats in their Congressional delegation as the Republican-controlled House attempts to stymie the EPA’s regulatory innovation.
This also will vault Rick Perry to the highest level of national politics, even as he continues to insist that he won’t run for President. With a third term as governor in hand and a perfect political battle opening in front of him, though, the opportunity may be too much to resist for a man who could possibly unite conservatives and the GOP for a big run against a stumbling Obama in 2012.
I hope you had a merry Christmas and have a prosperous new year!
Oh, and if you split off from the States, can I have an invite? I have a couple references from my service days from Texas ;)
It's time for the states to start refusing to cooperate and exercise those rights. It they don't, I'm telling you, this country is doomed.
Surprised at MS and LA.
Many people call them, and the staffers hang up on them if their position does not agree with the politician's.
We might have to give in in the end, but at least we’ll
go down with a fight! We need to win this battle! The EPA
has seriously over-reached!
Screw the Feds. We've got enough oil and other resources we don't need them.
However, they do need us. I'd let the bastards freeze in the dark if it were up to me.
I’ve got General John C. Calhoun (South) and General John C. Caldwell (North) blood running through my veins, but I’ve always sided with the South, and would gladly put my deeds behind those words if ever given the honor.
I just got to have one of those T-shirts!
Perry’s definitely a literal RINO - he switched from RAT - but Greg Abbott’s the real deal. Think he’s even a FReeper.
If Perry MUST take POTUS, I’d be thrilled, ecstatic if Abbott took the Governorship.
That’s the one!
From What I heard, Texas is one state that can divide into 7 Republics.Which would earn Two senators per Republics. true or False?
If Perry was not a open-borders RINO he would push it. Maybe he will try but I doubt it.
5. We lost our ‘legal’ right to secede when we cut the deal to re-enter the union, but we reserved the right to split into 5 sub-states, each with 2 senators. If push ever really came to shove we could take back the Senate.
RINO Bush clan. I did a lot to get GW elected making thousands of GOTV calls because Kerry was a disgusting POS who dishonored Vietnam Vets. Still - the Bush clan are one worlder RINOs.
Pete DuPont would have been a much better President than Poppy.
Hussein is a Saudi puppet. His job is to islamify America and to make us permanent energy serfs/dhiminis to the Saudis who pretty much control the 6 US TV networks.
You are completely and totally misinformed, misguided and ignorant.
Your cessation of TV has left you deprived and deluded
Whatever happened to the Arizona governor? Never hear about her anymore.
Did they get to her?
Did she back down?
Is she being ignored?
What can we do? Secede!
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