Daines Fights to Block Obama Administration’s Misguided Anti-Coal Regulations

HELENA, Mont. — Following publication of the Obama administration’s new anti-coal regulations in the Federal Register, Senator Steve Daines today announced several efforts to block President Obama’s anti-coal regulations and any future regulations on coal-fired plants.  

Daines joined Montana Attorney General Tim Fox in Helena this morning to announce that Montana, along with 23 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to halt the Obama administration’s so-called Clean Power Plan. Daines also announced that he has signed onto two Senate measures to block the Obama administration’s job-killing regulations on new and existing coal-fired power plans. 

“America can and should power the world, but we can only do it if the Obama administration allows innovation to thrive. The Obama administration’s reckless war on energy will only kill good-paying Montana jobs and lead to higher energy costs that will hurt hardworking Montana families and small businesses,” Daines stated. “I appreciate Attorney General Tim Fox’s continued leadership to halt the Obama administration’s anti-coal regulations. I will continue to pursue any and all avenues to protect Montanans from the Obama administration’s harmful anti-coal, anti-energy regulations with the same vigor that they are working to destroy Montana’s robust coal industry.”

Daines serves as an original cosponsor of two Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval that will block the Obama administration’s regulations on new and existing coal-fired power plants. The measures will be formally introduced in the Senate next week.

Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can overturn actions by a federal agency, like EPA, after a rule is formally published and submitted to Congress. If the resolutions are enacted into law, they would nullify the Obama administration’s Sections 111(b) and 111(d) Rules, including any portions of the regulations that have already gone into effect. 

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