Democrats promise fight over efforts to repeal environmental regs

House Democrats on Thursday night vowed to fight any and all Republican efforts to scale back environmental regulations as part of their broader effort to ease the regulatory burden on companies.

Debate over the GOP's plans grew emotional tonight after Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) said the Obama administration is hurting energy exploration efforts by limiting access to federal lands for drilling, and what he described as the "war on coal." Lamborn criticized the administration's efforts to rewrite surface mining rules, and said energy companies cannot explore for new energy sources with any confidence as the rules are changing.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) immediately took to the House floor to respond.

"What I just heard makes my blood boil," Garamendi said. "I was Deputy Secretary in the Department of Interior when the rapers and pillagers of the public lands wanted all regulations to disappear."

"The regulations are there for a reason," he continued, his voice rising. "They are there to protect the precious environment of America, and if it is your intent to do away with those regulations, then know this: you will have a fight on your hands."

The exchange took place in the context of a nearly six hour debate over a pending Republican resolution instructing 10 House committees to review regulations that might hurt U.S. job creation. Several Democrats asked Republicans to end the debate to spare both sides hours of debate and possibly move on a Democrat-preferred jobs bill. But each time, Republicans declined the offer.

Debate was controlled tonight by the House Committees on Small Business, Energy & Commerce, Transportation & Infrastructure, Financial Services, Natural Resources, and Ways & Means. Four additional hours of debate are expected on Friday.