Members in both the House and Senate introduced bills this week that would delay greenhouse gas limits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could place on power plants and other stationary sources. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and Representatives Nick Rahall (D-WV), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), and Rick Boucher (D-VA) proposed legislation that would give lawmakers more time to come up with their own regulatory regime.
This comes on the heels of a push by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and forty other cosponsors to disapprove of and prohibit the EPA??s current plan to regulate greenhouse gases through the Clean Air Act with little say from Congress. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) and nearly 100 cosponsors introduced similar legislation in the House.
NACS sent a letter to the Senate and the House expressing support for the resolutions offered by Sen. Murkowski and Rep. BartonWe also joined a coalition of affected industries in a second letter to each Senator requesting a yes vote on the proposal. To view NACS?? letter click here. To view the coalition letter click here.
NACS Staff Contact: Corey Fitze, cfitze@nacsoline.com
In a press conference Wednesday President Obama laid out a strategy for House and Senate Democrats to get a final heath care bill to his desk. Aides are scrambling to put together the final draft of a reconciliation bill that would enact most of the President??s reforms. This type of legislation would only require a simple majority of votes, fifty-one in the Senate and 2/3 of the House. It is clear that Republican support is no longer being sought, but rather circumvented. Although there are problems within the Democratic caucus that still have to be resolved. House moderates are not ready to say yes to the more liberal policies and the high cost is a problem for fiscal conservatives. Also there is a disconnect between the House and the Senate. As is historically the case the House does not want to cede its decision making authority over to the Senate just because they will need to vote on whatever policy can garner fifty-one votes.
NACS Staff Contact: Julie Fields, jfields@nacsonline.com
According to Congress Daily, "Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI), a fierce advocate for labor interests and defender of his home-state's ailing auto industry, ascended to the chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee this morning after the more senior Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) bowed out.
The soft-spoken Levin was deferential to outgoing Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), saying he was acting chairman pending the decision of the Ethics Committee, which is still investigating Rangel. Levin said all the subjects before the committee will be on the table and that he plans to reach out to panel Republicans as well."
NACS Staff Contact: Corey Fitze, cfitze@nacsonline.com