Boxer: Republicans want to ‘stop EPA in its tracks’

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) on Wednesday spoke out against an amendment to strip the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. She said that Republicans and “friends of the polluters” want to “stop the EPA in its tracks.”

“This is essentially a repeal of the Clean Air Act as it pertains to one particularly pollutant — carbon — that is a danger to the American people and dangerous to the health of our families,” said Boxer.

“Guess what?” asked Boxer. “The friends of these polluters have decided they are going to stop the EPA in its tracks.”

Boxer accused senators who opposed the EPA’s regulation of carbon emissions of putting on “white coats” and playing scientist.

Boxer also displayed two placards of children using assisted breathing devices and asked Republicans if they wanted to make the problem worse.

“Look at this picture, she is gasping for air,” said Boxer. “I urge my Republican colleagues to look at this.”

An Republican amendment to the small business bill would ban the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wednesday that a breakthrough had been reached on that and other amendments that had been holding up the bill.