Can the Nat Gas Act be a Political Panacea for rising crude oil prices?
Rising gasoline prices, often sparked by instability abroad, typically cause the issues of energy security and oil dependence to gain more attention among lawmakers. While our nation has long lacked a national energy policy, rising gasoline prices can sometimes result in Congressional action. Thus, today’s rising gasoline prices would seem to make this current moment ripe for bipartisan action.
Proposal to Handicap EPA's Regulation of Greenhouse Gases Evaporates in Senate
Earlier this week, Senate Republicans failed in their attempts to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory authority over carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. While this is a short term victory for the Obama administration, the nature of the vote raises questions about the EPA’s congressional support in the not so distant future.
Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R., KY.) and Sen. James Inhofe (R., OK.), introduced an ambitious measure that would reject the EPA’s finding that climate change is a threat to public health and welfare, and rein in the Obama administration’s environmental policies. Ultimately the proposal failed with only four Democrats joining the ranks of Republicans seeking to restrict the EPA’s authority. A companion measure in the Republican-held House passed 255-172 the next day, but was more a symbolic vote given the lack of Senate support and promised presidential veto.
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