Anti-Climate Amendments Under Senate Consideration: McConnell, Rockefeller, Baucus, Stabenow

Posted by Brad Johnson Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:16:00 GMT

The small business legislation SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 493), introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), is being used as a vehicle for senators who wish to prevent regulation of greenhouse pollution from oil refineries, coal-fired power plants, heavy industry, and other major emitters. Four amendments, varying from the Upton-Inhofe legislation to prevent any and all action by the Environmental Protection Agency against climate change, to a two-year suspension of climate rules from Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), have been introduced. Votes on some combination of the amendments are expected to take place as early as Thursday afternoon.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has introduced amendment 183, the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011, first introduced by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.). The amendment is cosponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). The amendment calls for:
  1. The permanent prohibition on Clean Air Act regulation of greenhouse gases, other than the existing motor vehicle rules
  2. Repeal of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding and reporting requirements
  3. Preventing any future California waiver for tailpipe greenhouse emissions
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) has introduced amendment 215, the EPA Stationary Source Regulations Suspension Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.). The amendment calls for:
  1. A two-year suspension of stationary source regulations of carbon dioxide and methane
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has introduced amendment 236, which has three elements:
  1. Forbidding regulation of greenhouse gases from a emitter that doesn’t also produce other regulated air pollution
  2. Codification of the EPA tailoring rule that establishes a 75,000 ton CO2e/year threshold for regulation
  3. Excluding regulation of biofuel emissions related to land-use changes, or any other agricultural activities whatsover
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has introduced amendment 265, which has four elements:
  1. A two-year suspension of stationary source greenhouse gas regulations
  2. Preventing any future California waiver for tailpipe greenhouse emissions
  3. Excluding regulation of biofuel emissions related to land-use changes, or any other agricultural activities whatsover
  4. Allocating $5 billion to the Advanced Energy Project tax credit