McConnell urges 'yes' vote on EPA amendment

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday urged his colleagues to support an amendment that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating the emission of greenhouse gases, just moments after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) indicated that the Senate would vote on the amendment this week.

"At a time when Americans are looking for answers on the economy, this amendment is as good as it gets from Washington," McConnell said. "By voting for it, we'd be saying 'no' to more regulations and red tape, and we'd be saying 'yes' to American job creators and to the jobs they want to create."

Reid said a vote would be held on McConnell's amendment to the small business bill, S. 493, but also said he expects "a couple of other amendments that relate to EPA."

Reid also said he expects a vote on an amendment on Tuesday that would repeal language in last year's healthcare law that requires increased IRS reporting for companies, the so-called "1099 repeal."