Barbour rallies governors to oppose EPA move to regulate greenhouse gases

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is trying to rally support among his fellow governors for an effort in Congress to prevent EPA from regulating greenhouse gases.

A draft letter, which Barbour is circulating in advance of a National Governors Association meeting this weekend, says EPA’s regulatory push would place “heavy administrative burdens on state environmental quality agencies.”

The letter urges members of Congress to support Sen. Lisa Murkowski's efforts (R-Alaska) to use the Congressional Review Act to block EPA from regulating carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases.

Advocates for climate change legislation noted Barbour's former life as an energy lobbyist to criticize his latest effort.

“The fact that former super lobbyist Haley Barbour is helping to lead this attack on the Clean Air Act and public health simply makes the polluter connection all the more clear,” said Jeremy Symons of the National Wildlife Federation.

Clean Air Watch’s Frank O’Donnell said, “Barbour is carrying water for the big polluters – and putting fear-mongering politics ahead of science.”

A call to Barbour’s Mississippi office was not immediately returned.