'Slippery Slope: EPA Moves Forward On New Rules To Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions'
(New York Times) -- NYTimes.com reports, "Unwilling to wait for Congress to act, the Obama administration announced this week that it was moving forward on new rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of power plants and large industrial facilities." Obama "has authorized the EPA to begin moving toward regulation, which could goad lawmakers into reaching an agreement." The EPA's move is "significant, because under the Clean Air Act, any facility emitting more than 250 tons per year of a regulated pollutant must meet federal requirements." Bloomberg notes that "under the proposal ... the EPA said it won't target small sources despite the way the Clean Air Act is written because doing so would lead to 'absurd results.'" Senate Republicans last week "failed to block EPA from regulating greenhouse gases from stationary sources during a debate over legislation that funds the agency." Bryan Brendle, energy and resources policy director for the National Association of Manufacturers, said, "The proposed EPA regulation of large industrial sources is a 'slippery slope' that may 'discourage a lot of investment' in the U.S." See the story at <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/science/earth/01epa.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=%2b%22National+Association+of+Manufacturers%22&st=nyt>
'Sen. Johanns: Senate Climate Change Bill Is Left Of Obama, Pelosi'
(Sen. Johanns release) – In a news release, Senator Mike Johanns this week made the following statement regarding the climate change legislation introduced Sept. 30 by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA): "This bill is an assault on agriculture. It is to the left of Speaker Pelosi and to the left of the President. It will lead to higher taxes, higher energy costs, a tighter squeeze on disposable income, more lost jobs and lower standards of living. For agriculture, the costs are real and the benefits are theoretical -- our country's heartland is in the crosshairs of this national energy tax." The bill proposes reductions of 20% below 2005 levels by 2020, compared to the (House-passed bill) Waxman-Markey reductions of 17% and the President’s proposed reductions of 14% in the same period.
'Manufacturers Voice Concern Regarding Latest Global Warming Bill'
(NAM release) -- The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President Keith McCoy this week issued the following statement on climate change legislation introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA): "While the legislation omits many key details, the NAM is concerned that the current draft of the Boxer-Kerry climate change bill introduced (Wednesday) will increase costs for manufacturers and consumers ... while resulting in little benefit to the environment." A recent NAM analysis "showed the (House-passed climate bill) would result in up to 2.4 million lost jobs, higher energy prices for businesses and consumers, and cumulative GDP losses of up to $3.1 trillion over an 18-year period." See the full release at <http://www.nam.org/NewsFromtheNAM.aspx?DID=%7bDAA0484A-3637-4F17-B416-566C5CF6DEFF%7d>
'Kerry convinced climate bill has a shot'
(The Hill) -- TheHill.com reports Democrat Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said he is "convinced" that the Senate's climate change bill "has a shot to pass." The Hill notes that Kerry, a coauthor of the Senate climate bill, and other supporters of the bill have "framed the need for the legislation as a national security issue." http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/60869-kerry-convinced-climate-bill-has-a-shot-in-the-senate
'Senate global warming bill leaves out ag wishes'
(Des Moines Register) -- The Des Moines Register reports that the Senate's version of the climate bill "lacks many of the provisions sought by farm groups." The story notes that "the House bill has already been under attack from farm organizations because of the potential impact on fuel and fertilizer." See more at <http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090930/BUSINESS01/90930045/1030>
