Dems target two parts of Interior Dept. budget in debate

Democrats in the House on Wednesday afternoon pinpointed two parts of the GOP's fiscal 2011 spending bill that they oppose, including one that they will attempt to eliminate later in the evening. Both target the Interior Department.

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) has an amendment that would cut Section 1746 of the bill, which holds that none of the funds provided to the EPA can be used to enforce or issue a regulation, or take any action related to state permits for activity that must meet greenhouse gas emissions.

"The irresponsible Republican spending bill is not the place to legislate these types of changes," Tonko said Wednesday.

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) added that the bill language would prevent construction or expansion of factories, as it would prevent these entities from getting the needed EPA permits.

Another section of the bill would cut Interior Department spending in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) spoke out against this proposal, as did Del. Gregorio Salban (D-Northern Mariana Islands). Salban said the funding cut would hurt efforts there to control a growing population of snakes in that territory.

A second round of voting on various amendments is expected later Wednesday, and House debate on other amendments is expected to continue after that.