Next Week’s Public Interest Attacks in Congress: Lawmakers Go After EPA
This week, the McConnell-Boehner corporate Congress launched a broadside on the regulatory system. The U.S. House of Representatives passed measures that would bring down the entire regulatory system – the one that helps keep our air safe to breathe, our water clean, our food safe to eat and our financial system secure. House lawmakers also considered a measure that would further victimize people suffering from asbestos-related diseases.
What’s coming up next week? Here’s what we know about so far:
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works holds a hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposals to curb carbon dioxide emissions both from new and existing power plants. The hearing is purportedly designed to explore the impacts of the rules.
Expect to hear a lot of moaning and groaning from fossil fuel industry, particular the coal titans. They likely will be complaining loudest about the proposal to curb emissions from existing plants.
Here’s what you should remember, though: The EPA’s plan will help consumers by reducing electricity costs. Yes, you heard right. Here’s how: The plan will require a lot more energy efficiency. That means that people will use less electricity to power their homes.
The plan also will create jobs, boost the economy – and improve public health, because there will be less pollution. What’s more, the EPA estimates that its rule will boost the economy by $26 billion to $84 billion per year.
Learn more about the consumer case for the EPA greenhouse gas rule.