Republican Main Street Partnership Expresses Disappointment at Senate Failure to Pass Legislation Aimed at Stopping EPA Power Grab

Contact: Chris Barron
(202) 286-4533

(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, all 41 Republican Senators were joined by 6 Democrats in voting for S.J. Res. 26, offered by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The legislation would have overturned the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. In response, former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), current President and CEO of Main Street, issued the following statement:

“We are disappointed that this bipartisan effort fell short. Energy and environmental policy should be set by the Congress and the Administration working together – not by fiat by bureaucrats at the EPA.

“The truth is that we can pass legislation that will put our country on a path towards energy independence while at the same time protecting our fragile environment and while creating – not destroying – good, high-paying 21st century jobs.

“Last month, Main Street unveiled out our ‘Principles for Energy and Environmental Reform.’ While this list is not exhaustive, we believe it provides a solid framework around which we can forge a meaningful bipartisan compromise.”

MAIN STREET’S PRINCIPLES FOR REFORM:

1. We must recognize that energy and environmental policies are inextricably linked, and that job creation can – and should be – a critical component of any energy and environmental reform legislation.

2. We acknowledge that global climate change is real and we support implementing policies that seek to reduce emissions.

3. Recognizing that climate change is occurring our government should take reasonable steps to encourage the reduction of green house gases that contribute to climate change.

4. To find effective solutions to the energy and environmental challenges we face, Congress must undertake a truly bipartisan effort.

5. Energy and environmental legislation should not be held hostage by the most expensive and controversial provisions.

6. For the free market to truly work, all energy sources should be treated equally - the government shouldn’t pick winners and losers. Only by unleashing the innovative power of the free market can we expect to find long term environmentally friendly energy solutions.

7. We should recognize that energy is a regional issue – any comprehensive legislation dealing with energy and the environment should recognize the regional consequences and afford for those regional differences.

8. As our energy needs are expected to grow 40-50% by 2030, future US energy policies should not only encourage the deployment of renewable energy sources and new technologies, but expand and improve the efficiency of existing energy sources and traditional power generation.

9. Nuclear Power must be an important component of any comprehensive energy and environmental legislative package.

10. Congress must reverse the Massachusetts v. EPA decision that gives EPA supreme power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. By law, the EPA is prevented from taking economic considerations into account. We need to address climate change, but we must take a responsible, pragmatic approach that does not further depress our economy and cost the US jobs.

The Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP) is dedicated to promoting and building a pragmatic, thoughtful, fiscally conservative, and inclusive “Governing Majority,” where political debate is encouraged to promote solutions to improve the lives of all Americans. Embracing the full spectrum of center-right ideologies and values in order to build coalitions, RMSP is the largest organization of elected leaders who are in the mold of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. For more information on RMSP, visit our website at www.republicanmainstreet.org.