Senate votes to “rein in” EPA’s regulation of carbon emissions

The above headline is a bit misleading, but, so too, are 12 Democrat, and one Republican senators. Let me explain.

About 10 days ago, the Senate voted on a bill offered by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to rein in the EPA’s relentless march toward enacting, via regulation, what Congress refused to enact via legislation…cap and tax.  For many Democrats, particularly those up for reelection in 2012, a vote on McConnell’s bill was akin to “drink the hemlock and you will die, or, don’t drink the hemlock and we’ll figure out another way to kill you”.

So, as it turns out, 63 senators voted to rein in the EPA, but, the EPA will still proceed as planned.

I know you are puzzled.  If 63 Senators voted to rein in the EPA, why is carbon regulation still proceeding?

It’s called sleight of hand.

Three Senators offered three separate alternatives to McConnell’s bill, all three of which  would have reined in the EPA regulations to some extent.  Senator Rockefeller’s (D-W.Va.) alternative was that the EPA rules should be postponed for two years.  Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) alternatives would have exempted agriculture from the EPA tentacles.  Everyone knew that none of the alternatives would pass on their own, but they provided political cover.

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was only too happy to comply with this ruse by allowing this Chinese menu of “alternatives” to come to the floor at the same time as McConnell’s proposal.  The end result… 50 Senators voted for McConnell’s proposal (one short of passage), and the 13 senators, who will be named below, voted for one alternative or the other.  The rest are apparently happy letting the administration do their work for them.

However, all 13 of these Senators will be able to say, come the next election, that they voted to stop the EPA regulation of carbon.

Pretty clever, huh?

Here’s the gang of 13 (the names in bold are up for election in 2012):

  • Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
  • Mark Begich (D-Alaska)
  • Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
  • Bob Casey (D-Pa.)
  • Kent Conrad (D-N.D.)
  • Kay Hagan (D-N.C.)
  • Tim Johnson (D-S.D.)
  • Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
  • Carl Lewis (D-Mich.)
  • Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)
  • Jay Rockefeller (D-Va.)
  • Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
  • Jim Webb (D-Va.)
  • Susan Collins (R-Maine)
  • Carl Levin (D-Mich)

It should come as no surprise to learn that the five Democrats up for re-election come from states that are heavily reliant on fossil fuel.  Now, they will be able to tell their constituents, “I voted against the EPA’s regulation of carbon”.

Spread the word.

Posted in ,

SoundOffSister

The Sound Off Sister was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and special trial attorney for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division; a partner in the Florida law firm of Shutts & Bowen, and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, School of Law. The Sound Off Sister offers frequent commentary concerning legislation making its way through Congress, including the health reform legislation passed in early 2010.

14 Comments

  1. johnboy111 on April 16, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    good LORD..just stop?



  2. Eric on April 16, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    I suppose we shouldn't be surprised though… after all, they're only democrats! If there were ever a party custom made for sociopathic liars the Democrat party would be the one!



    • Dimsdale on April 16, 2011 at 5:14 pm

      Democrats and the almost indistinguishable Maine RINO….



  3. Gary J on April 17, 2011 at 2:35 am

    We need a commission to have the water tested in DC. At least that wouldn't be wasted tax dollars.



    • PatRiot on April 18, 2011 at 1:48 pm

      It would be wasted tax dollars.  Whether the water is tainted or not, some people will do what they want, or as they are told, without regard to the facts.

      As one fellow said in another blog – "We have too many republicans and democrats in DC, we need more Americans!"



  4. GdavidH on April 17, 2011 at 4:50 am

    Tricky little devils!



  5. Tracy on April 17, 2011 at 11:29 am

    Great catch SOS! These politicians are nothing more than socialist slime.



  6. Marilyn on April 18, 2011 at 2:30 am

    Know which alternative your Senator voted for and call them on it. 



  7. Lynn on April 18, 2011 at 3:11 am

    SOS, great catch



  8. sammy22 on April 18, 2011 at 6:27 am

    This vote will be forgotten by the end of the week.



    • PatRiot on April 18, 2011 at 1:50 pm

      All too true!  And the march to financial slavery takes another goose step forward.



    • ricbee on April 18, 2011 at 8:53 pm

      How true….



  9. Dimsdale on April 18, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    But everyone will know who got booted off "Dancing with the Stars" or some other tripe….



  10. Lynn on April 19, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Oh Dimsdale, my one guilty pleasure is watching "Dancing with the Stars".  I watch Neil Cavuto to balance and I am a little mobster.  Can we say American Idol instead?



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