Find out more from the Center for Biological Diversity: Legislating for a New Climate

Lisa Murkowski's Proposed Bill Rejected by Senate
By Kristina Skorbach

The Senate rejected a proposed bill by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), which would have disabled the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation over carbon emissions. The Senate defeated the bill on Thursday in a 53-47 vote.

"I had hopes, for the security of our economy, that we would prevail today," said Sen. Murkowski after the decision was made this afternoon in the Senate.

Murkowski said in her prehearing speech that the EPA was trying to impose its Clean Air Act, which was inappropriate for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and that the Act should be written in Congress.

Sen. Murkowski later went on to say that the "disapproval resolution is necessary to avoid the 'economic train wreck' that would result from the EPA regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act."

The bill would have allowed Congress to make broad energy and climate legislation, which would have been preferred by large industries, rather than having to submit to the EPA’s strict requirements, reported Reuters.

President Barack Obama supported the decision. “Today’s vote is yet another reminder of the urgent need to pass legislation that would help America transition to a 21st century clean energy economy that would create jobs, strengthen our national security, and protect our environment for our children,” Obama stated.

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