Senate rejects Baucus amendment to limit EPA climate authority

The Senate on Wednesday rejected an amendment to small-business legislation authored by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that would limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions.

The amendment was rejected in a 7-93 vote. Democratic Sens. Baucus, Kay Hagan (N.C.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Mark Begich (Alaska), Tim Johnson (S.D.), Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.) and Carl Levin (Mich.) voted in favor of the amendment. The amendment received no Republican support.

Baucus’s amendment would exempt agriculture from EPA climate regulations and codify EPA’s “tailoring” rule, which exempts smaller emitters from the regulations.

It’s one of three alternative amendments offered by Democrats that would limit, rather than eliminate EPA’s climate authority. Republicans have dismissed the amendments as political cover for moderate or vulnerable Democrats that are getting pushback on EPA climate rules from their constituents.

A fourth amendment, offered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), would permanently prohibit EPA from regulating greenhouse-gas emissions.

The other amendments will come up for a vote shortly. All are expected to fail.

Stay tuned for more.