U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) this morning made the following comment regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed regulations on existing power plants:
“Make no mistake, the administration’s proposed rule is nothing more than a national energy tax that will be yet another sucker punch to middle-class families throughout South Dakota struggling to get by in the Obama economy. These regulations, which will increase electricity costs, will especially hurt low-income families and seniors who live on fixed incomes and already devote a large share of their income to electricity bills. In addition to hurting families, the regulations will destroy jobs, while essentially doing nothing to improve our global environment. The president’s proposed regulations are lose-lose-lose.”
Thune offered two amendments to the Shaheen-Portman energy bill that would have stopped the EPA from moving forward with these carbon dioxide regulations, but Senate Democrats blocked all amendments. One of Thune's amendments would have only allowed the regulations on new and existing plants to move forward if they did not raise energy costs or destroy jobs, and the second would have required Congress’ approval on any EPA regulation over $1 billion.