Big threat for Obama’s climate efforts from GOP-run Congress
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These are some of the most likely ways the GOP will try to stop Obama on climate change, as described by Republican leadership aides:
—After Wednesday’s hearing on Keystone, GOP senators plan to work on the bill’s details on Thursday and then start debating the legislation next week. The Senate could vote soon after Obama’s Jan. 20 State of the Union address. A separate House vote on Keystone could come as early as this week.
That makes Keystone likely to be one of the first bills to hit Obama’s desk in 2015. White House aides decline to say how they might respond until they see the final GOP bill. But in his most recent news conference, Obama spoke at length about how Keystone would basically save money for Canadian energy producers, with negligible effects for U.S. gasoline prices or American jobs.
— Republicans aim to pass legislation forcing Obama to certify — before his regulations on power plants take effect — that they won’t drive up power prices or eliminate jobs. Attaching that requirement to a broader spending bill would make it harder for Obama to veto without jeopardizing other government spending.
In the “defund” approach, Republicans could pass bills prohibiting the government from spending any money to implement his EPA regulations. Meanwhile, states and other groups are pursuing litigation in the courts challenging the administration’s authority to proceed without Congress.
— The GOP could try to block Environmental Protection Agency regulations directly. The Congressional Review Act enables such resolutions to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote, meaning Democrats couldn’t filibuster, once the regulations became final. That’s scheduled to happen this year for Obama’s carbon dioxide rule, which aims to cut power plant emissions nearly a third from 2005 levels.
— Lawmakers could refuse to give Obama the $3 billion he has already pledged on the country’s behalf to a global fund to help poorer nations address climate change. Obama hasn’t yet asked Congress for any money to fulfill that pledge. The White House says the administration will make its first request in its budget plan for fiscal year 2016, which begins Oct. 1.
— Republicans are likely to send Obama bills aimed at spurring energy development in the U.S., such as promoting drilling on federal lands or making it easier to export gas and oil. Many of these bills have previously passed the House and are teed up for quick passage by the new Congress.
http://bakken.com/news/id/229138/big-threat-obamas-climate-efforts-gop-run-congress/
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Prepare to battle Mr President
