Reid rules out ‘any’ EPA riders in spending bill endgame

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Friday that Democrats would not accept any provisions in House GOP-passed spending legislation that block EPA from implementing various pollution rules.

The comment is significant because while debate on EPA riders has largely focused on GOP plans to block climate change rules, the House fiscal year 2011 spending plan would also block funding for implementing rules to curb toxic emissions from cement kilns, and several other policies.

Reid told reporters on a conference call that Senate Democrats won’t “accept any of the EPA riders they have in their bill.” He also said the White House would not accept them.

The House, Senate and White House are racing to reach agreement on a six-month spending plan to avoid a government shutdown when the current stopgap measure expires April 8.

This post was updated at 12:42 p.m.