The resolution, HJR 76, would use the Congressional Review Act to essentially veto EPA's recent finding that GHGs endanger human health, a step EPA is required to take under the Clean Air Act before it can pursue further regulatory action.
"When Congress passed the Clean Air Act, it never gave EPA the explicit authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions for the purpose of stopping global climate change," Skelton said in a statement. "But, that is exactly what EPA has proposed to do."
Earlier this month Skelton, one of the highest ranking Democrats in the U.S. House, joined Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and House Agricultural Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) in announcing separate legislation to bar EPA from regulating GHGs.
A counterpart resolution was filed in the Senate by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and already has 41 co-sponsors, including three Democrats.
It's unlikely that the proposed legislation or this resolution would make it through the many Congressional hurdles or not be subject to a Presidential veto.
"EPA is doing what they were instructed to do as a result of a lawsuit by states to regulate those dangerous gases," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier this week.
But for Skelton, this is exactly the break from the Washington Democrats he must successfully demonstrate to voters in House District 4 to win re-election. In recent weeks Skelton has taken hits from several Republicans vying for their party's nomination to challenge Skelton this fall.
"Skelton has been one of main enablers to Nancy Pelosi's speakership," Bill Stouffer (R) said in a statement this week. "Since 2001, Ike Skelton has contributed a whopping $865,000 to Democrat efforts in Washington to build a liberal majority we see governing today."
And Stouffer's not alone in his criticism. One of the other five primary challengers, who apparently never has anything positive to say about Skelton, couldn't pass the opportunity for criticism.
"We aren't fooled by political tricks and election year conversions," former state Rep. Vicky Hartlzer (R) said in a press release. "When we needed him, he threw us over the bridge of political expediency."
While the Republican challengers are openly criticizing Skelton, they can't attack him for leaving Washington amid multiple crises to run his political campaign. Filing for offices began last week, and Skelton hasn't re-filed yet.
Skelton, who represented District 4 in the U.S. House since 1977, currently has no primary challengers.
Related Links:
Skelton Press Release on GHG Resolution
HJR 76 [2010] Summary
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