Upton shrugs off Dem's Koch Brothers slam

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) doesn’t sound especially offended that a Virginia Democrat wants Upton’s bill to block climate change rules renamed “The Koch Brothers Appreciation Act.”

“I’m glad somebody has a sense of humor,” Upton told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

Upton’s bill will be debated on the floor Wednesday, and Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) has pitched an amendment to rename it in honor of the billionaire brothers, who own a Kansas-based refining company and are major supporters of conservative groups and Republicans.

“He [Connolly] didn’t talk to me beforehand,” Upton quipped.

The amendment is one of roughly 40 filed to the bill, which would nullify the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The bill would scuttle current and planned rules for power plants, refineries and other sources.

Democrats filed almost all the amendments. Upton said Tuesday that he expects debate on roughly a dozen amendments during Wednesday’s floor debate. It’s not yet clear which amendments the House Rules Committee will tee up for votes in Wednesday's battle.

Proposals include Rep. Mike Pompeo’s (R-Kan.) amendments to ensure that greenhouse gases are not regulated under the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act; Rep. Mike Quigley’s (D-Ill.) plan to require a study of the health care costs from repealing EPA’s power, and many others.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, submitted an amendment calling on Congress to accept a finding by the EPA that “climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for public health and welfare.”