Capito and McKinley Fight the EPA

Capito Applauds Senator Toomey For Introducing Bill To Mandate EPA Consider Jobs
6/29/11
Today, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., applauded Senator Pat Toomey, R-PA, for his leadership in introducing the Senate version of Capito’s bill, the Employment Protection Act, which would require the EPA to consider the impact of any new regulation, new policy statement or permit denial on jobs.

In May, Capito introduced H.R. 1872 the “Employment Protection Act” to ensure the EPA considers how their actions impact jobs and the economy. Capito has fought hard to limit the EPA’s assault on Appalachian job-creators, specifically pushing back against the EPA’s intent to use broadly interpreted regulatory authority to overstep the bounds of its traditional role in the permitting process.

“The energy industry provides thousands of good-paying jobs, and coal aloneprovides over half of our nation’s electricity and over 95 percent of the power in West Virginia,” stated Capito. “I am proud to work with Senator Toomey to ensure that the EPA cannot continue to push rules and regulations without considering what it is doing to local economies and families.”

Earlier this month, American Electric Power announced it will be forced to cut jobs and decrease production in order to comply with a series of regulations proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would impact coal-fueled power plants.

Capito’s bill has 12 cosponsors


McKinley Measure Just a First Step
06/27/11
The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
Thanks to U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., thoughtful Americans concerned about the liberal war on coal have won a battle.

Last week an important bill introduced by McKinley, concerning Environmental Protection Agency plans to establish harsh new rules on fly ash generated at coal-fired power plants, advanced in the House of Representatives. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy approved the bill.

McKinley estimates that if the EPA is allowed to proceed, hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost. In addition, costs to the economy "could surpass the hundred-billion dollar range." And that is just part of the liberal war on coal.

McKinley's bill would prevent the EPA from classifying fly ash as hazardous waste. It should not be viewed as such, of course. The material is used extensively in production of widely-sold goods such as drywall and concrete.

The bill probably will be approved by the full House - but may stall in the Senate.

Still, it is a small victory - one battle in what may be a long, brutal conflict to keep President Barack Obama and other liberals from destroying the coal industry.

McKinley is to be commended for his initiative, and encouraged to keep up the good work.