Sen. Lincoln is backing Murkowski's bid to block EPA greenhouse gas rules

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) said Thursday that she is backing Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) attempt to block planned EPA greenhouse gas rules, and an aide to Murkowski said there are "several" other Democrats supporting the Alaska senator as well.

Murkowski fears EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions would harm the economy, and Lincoln, who faces a tough reelection fight this year, issued a statement Thursday that echoes Murkowski’s concerns.

“I am very concerned about the burden that EPA regulation of carbon emissions could put on our economy and have questions about the actual benefit EPA regulations would have on the environment,” Lincoln said in a prepared statement.

“Heavy-handed EPA regulation, as well as the current cap-and-trade bills in Congress, will cost us jobs and put us at an even greater competitive disadvantage to China, India and others,” she added.

Murkowski plans to announce Thursday afternoon that she is introducing a “resolution of disapproval” under the Congressional Review Act, a 1996 law that allows Congress to overturn federal agency rules that has been used successfully just once.

Murkowski’s resolution will seek to overturn EPA’s recent “endangerment finding” that greenhouse gases threaten human health and welfare. The finding is a legal precursor to future agency rules that limit heat-trapping gases from power plants, cars, factories and other sources.

The resolution cannot be filibustered if brought to the floor, but would nonetheless face major hurdles to enactment, including House passage and a potential White House veto.

The White House, which is working against the Murkowski effort, is seeking cap-and-trade legislation to reduce emissions but says EPA will move ahead with climate rules in the absence of a new law.