Congressman Joe Barton’s (R-Ennis, TX) office says he might introduce Texas-specific legislation to limit the reach of the Environmental Protection Agency, but for now he’s signing on as a co-sponsor to a measure filed yesterday aimed at stopping the federal regulation of greenhouse gases.
Barton is putting together a coalition of government officials at all levels along with business and industry groups to present a united front against EPA policies that he and other Texas Republicans say are strangling the state’s economy.
If Barton does file a Texas-specific measure, it would likely seek to rollback the EPA’s decision last year to halt the state’s flexible permitting program, which Texasrefineries have been relying on for some 15 years to get around federal pollution laws.
The legislation Barton has signed on to is sponsored by Oklahoma Republican James Inhofe, would effectively undo EPA’s decision to regulate greenhouse gases under the federal Clean Air Act. In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the agency has the authority to issue such a regulation.
Texas Republican John Cornyn is a co-sponsor of the Senate version of the bill. Several Democratic congressmen from industrial states are also co-sponsoring the bills, even though many expect President Obama to veto any legislation that might reach his desk.
Texas is challenging the agency’s ruling in court on grounds that the state’s industries and refineries would be disproportionately harmed. At this time all other states have either adopted or put forth a plan to meet the current EPA standards.
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Just another fine example of our elected representatives doing what they want and not representing the people that elected them………..I think they are called ‘Republicans’…….lets hope they are a dying breed before they really hurt a lot of people!
If Barton does file a Texas-specific measure, it would likely seek to rollback the EPA’s decision last year to halt the *************state’s flexible permitting program, which Texas refineries have been relying on for some 15 years to get around federal pollution laws.**********. See the refineries are already screwing us!!!!!
Pretty obvious that these 2, and some more, care nothing about the health and welfare of their constituents! They are bought and paid for by Big Business, and in Cornyn’s case, it is BIG OIL! The EPA halted opening of the new Riesel (Sandy Creek), upheld by The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in November 2010, stating that Texas Commission on Environmentally Quality (TCEQ) unlawfully approved the construction of the Sandy Creek coal plant. The Sandy Creek plant, which would be a major source of hazardous air pollution including mercury- a potent neurotoxin, began construction despite the fact that the proposed plant does not comply with the Clean Air Act.
8/30/07 – Credit Suisse and RBS Securities acted as lead arrangers to establish a $1 billion financing package for Dynegy/LS Power’s Sandy Creek 900 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Texas. The project financing, includes an $800 million construction loan and a fully drawn $200 million term loan.
* Citigroup
* Credit Suisse
* Goldman Sachs
* JP Morgan Chase
* Merrill Lynch
* Morgan Stanley
Anyone recognize these names? I call them co-conspirators!!
I live within 7 miles of the Tradinghouse Creek Plant (gas-fired), which was closed because it was too expensive to ‘bring it up to EPA standards.” Now the Sandy Creek plant is almost ready to open, and I am within 10 miles of a coal-fired plant.
I experienced the absolute worst case of bronchitis in my life this winter. I can hardly wait until Cornyn and friends make the air around here too polluted to breathe! With the prevailing winds in the Riesel area, the pollutants will move directly over the city of Waco and suburbs. Watch for the incidence of disease cause by airborne pollutants to rise sharply in Mclennan County!
Thanks Mr Cornyn and Mr Barton!