The Senate’s Global Warming Circus

Overreaching EPA Goes Rogue By Iain Murray The Senate undermined its constitutional role last week with a vote that allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The 53 senators favoring this huge delegation of authority to the executive branch disregarded the principle of separation of powers. The low quality of the debate that preceded the vote, as well as its result, should put an end to the Senate’s reputation as the world’s greatest deliberative body.The motion being debated and voted on was simple. It was to disapprove the ruling by the EPA, known as the endangerment finding, that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare. According to the terms of the Congressional Review Act, under which Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican, brought the motion, the resolution would have terminated the legal force and effect of the finding. It was most assuredly not a vote on the science upon which the EPA based its decision. Yet this was the prime argument used by the resolution’s …

Why Bernanke’s Confirmation Is, and Should Be, in Trouble

January 25, 2010 The Seminal No sooner had the New York Times released an initial story that “Opposition Grows Against Second Term for Bernanke,” noting opposition from Sens. Feingold and Boxer, than Sen. Harry Reid made a Friday evening announcement that he would support Bernanke. With presumed White House urging, Reid was hoping to head off further erosion

US Climate Legislation Probably Doomed

Democrats are deeply divided on climate change legislation, and Republicans boycotted the hearings this week, which leaves little hope for passage of legislation this year.  The Senate Environment Committee held three days of hearings on the climate bill last week - it goes to committee debate today.   Democrats from the Midwest, South and Rocky Mountain West are concerned about the impact of the legislation on industry and consumers  Democratic leaders, along with the Obama administration, are attempting to persuade at least six Republicans to vote in favor by compromising on nuclear plants. So far, not one Republican seems interested. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) says she will begin the mark up on climate legislation regardless of the fact that all 7 Republicans on the Committee plan to boycott the proceedings. Republicans say Boxer can’t do a markup without at least two Republicans present. Boxer countered that a provision would allow her to proceed as long as a majority of committee members are present. Democrats outnumber Republicans 12 to 7. “We urge Ranking Member Inhofe, with the utmost respect, to bring the committee…