Senate Republicans lay down markers in bid to block EPA climate rules

The scores of Senate bills introduced Tuesday include a measure to block Environmental Protection climate change rules, and there’s more to come.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) introduced a bill to “prohibit the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States until China, India, and Russia implement similar reductions,” according to the Congressional Record.

There’s more en route. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) is planning a bill that would broadly prevent EPA and other federal agencies from addressing greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and other statutes.

Bills to completely nullify EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases are highly unlikely to clear the Senate.

But some lawmakers — led by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) — are hoping to pass legislation that would delay regulation of power plants, refiners and other sources for two years.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told reporters Tuesday that he plans to co-sponsor Rockefeller’s forthcoming bill, which Rockefeller also pushed last year but failed to get to the floor.