GOP will move bill to block EPA climate rules despite Dem pleas for a delay

Top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked Republicans to delay an effort to move through a key subcommittee later this week legislation that would block Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations.

But Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), the chairman of the panel's Energy and Power subcommittee, said he would move forward with plans to hold a subcommittee vote on the bill Thursday.

The vote would mark the first step in House Republicans' efforts to pass the legislation, which would permanently eliminate the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources.

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) called on Republicans to "delay the markup that’s occurring on Thursday," adding, "I just think we should be more deliberative.”

And Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the full committee, prodded Republicans to start from scratch on their legislation.

"I’m willing to work with you on new approaches and creative ideas," he said at a hearing Tuesday on climate science. "We can start with a blank piece of paper."

Whitfield said he would continue with the markup of the bill as planned and Democrats would have the opportunity to voice their opposition to the bill.

"These are issues that we have significant disagreement on," Whitfield said. “We will have significant debate” at the markup.

Waxman acknowledged Monday that the Republicans' legislation will likely pass the committee. The bill will likely also pass the House, but it will face hurdles in the Senate.

The legislation was introduced last week in the House by full committee chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Whitfield. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.). The legislation has won the support of three Democrats in the House and one in the Senate.