Second Democrat to co-sponsor GOP legislation to block EPA climate rules

By Andrew Restuccia - 03/03/11 10:41 AM ET

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) will co-sponsor legislation set to be introduced later Thursday to permanently block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

Rahall is the second Democrat to sign on to the legislation. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) will also co-sponsor the legislation, slated to be introduced Thursday by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), who chairs the panel's Energy subcommittee.

Blake Androff, Rahall's spokesman, confirmed Thursday morning that the lawmaker will be an "original co-sponsor" of the legislation.

“I am dead-set against the EPA’s plowing ahead on its own with new regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions," Rahall said in a statement provided to The Hill. "The Congress — the place where the people’s will reigns — is the appropriate body to design a program with such sweeping ramifications.”

The legislation will block EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources. Lawmakers floated a draft version of the bill last month.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) will introduce companion legislation in the Senate later Thursday.

This story was updated at 9:55 a.m.