Agricultural News
Murkowski Resolution Falls Short- NCBA's Colin Woodall Says Several Farm State Democrats Abandoned Agriculture
Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:50:55 CDT
The Senate vote that would have called for a halt to the EPA's regulation of Greenhouse gases failed by a 47 to 53 vote on Thursday afternoon.
Washington Lobbyist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Colin Woodall, told us in a telephone interview that his organization is very disappointed and "feels abandoned by several farm state Demcrats" as a result of this vote. He did note that a couple of unexpected Democrats voted with Senator Murkowski on this measure, "such as Evan Bhyh of Indiana." Woodall adds that he does not expect a vote in the House on this Resolution. He is pleased to see there are enough votes in the Senate to stop any sort of Cap and Trade measure that might be promoted by Majority Leader Harry Reid the balance of 2010.
In the NCBA Newsletter- Capitol Concerns- NCBA adds "In addition to supporting S.J. Res. 26 and similar resolutions introduced in the House by Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas), NCBA, as a member of the Coalition for Responsible Regulation ("the Coalition"), has taken legal action to prevent EPA from moving forward on GHG regulation. In December, 2009, the Coalition filed petitions with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals and EPA challenging the science behind EPA's "endangerment finding," which provides the foundation for the agency to regulate GHGs from small and large sources throughout the economy (including farms, hospitals, office buildings and schools) under the CAA, which is ill-equipped to address climate change. In April, 2010, the Coalition filed an appeal challenging the so-called "Johnson Memo" which interprets when GHGs become subject to the federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit program. The Coalition's most recent appeals challenge EPA's tailpipe standards for greenhouse gas emissions and the tailoring rule."
Click on the Listen Bar below to hear our conversation with Woodall.
Also after the Senate action- the American Farm Bureau issued the following statement:
"The American Farm Bureau is disappointed that the Senate failed to halt the Environmental Protection Agency's regulation of greenhouse gases by failing to approve S.J. Res. 26. This was one of the most important votes in the Senate this year affecting U.S. agriculture.
"Additional EPA regulation for farmers will likely mean higher food costs for consumers because of higher input and energy costs to grow our food and result in negative economic impacts on the agriculture sector.
"Importantly, this vote also brought into question who should decide our nation's energy policy elected lawmakers or a regulatory agency. It is regrettable the Senate answered this question as it did. The vote against S.J. Res. 26 allows EPA to embark on the ambitious and unprecedented regulation of the American economy without congressional input.
"Farm Bureau commends Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) for their work on this issue and all of the members who voted in favor of S. J. Res. 26."
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