Senate vote on proposal to block EPA climate rules slated for Wednesday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is planning to hold a vote Wednesday on an amendment to small business legislation that would permanently block the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate rules.

The amendment, offered by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), would prohibit EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

“I think we're at a point where in the morning we can vote on the McConnell Amendment dealing with the EPA and a couple of other amendments relating to EPA to get rid of that issue one way or the other," Reid said on the floor Tuesday.

Reid will discuss how to proceed on the amendment, as well as two other amendments that would limit EPA’s climate authority, at a meeting Tuesday with his fellow Democrats, a Senate Democratic leadership aide said.

The timing for the vote on the amendments has been something of a moving target. Lawmakers told The Hill Monday night that the path forward on the amendments was unclear.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has introduced an amendment to the small business bill that would codify EPA plans to exempt small polluters from climate rules and exempt the agriculture sector from the rules. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has introduced an amendment to the bill that would delay EPA climate rules for two years.

It’s highly unlikely that McConnell’s amendment will garner the 60 votes necessary for passage. But a vote on the amendment would force moderate Democrats facing tough reelection bids to weigh in on the issue.

The two amendments from Democrats face major hurdles as well.

The McConnell language mirrors legislation authored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.).

Companion legislation introduced in the House passed a key committee earlier this month and is expected to come up for a vote in the coming weeks.