In a White House briefing yesterday, President Obama’s so-called blueprint for cutting greenhouse gases was unveiled with an ambitious goal of reducing emissions by one-third over the next ten years.
Among the tenets of the plan, which will be submitted to the U.N. as part of joint pledge with China, are goals to stop any new coal-fired plants, pushing through new fuel economy standards and further regulating the oil and gas industries.
Republican leaders were quick to criticize the blueprint as further example of excessive executive authority in which critics charge President Obama is using the EPA as a political bludgeon to achieve unrealistic goals.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell referred to the plan as “job-killing” and “illegal” detailing to the press, “Considering that two-thirds of the U.S. federal government hasn’t even signed off on the Clean Power Plan and 13 states have already pledged to fight it, our international partners should proceed with caution before entering into a binding, unattainable deal.”
The proposal comes amid the looming court battles being brought against the EPA by multiple states for overstepping its mandate in regulating environmental quality standards and issuing new rules.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) has already formed legislation designed to stop any international climate agreement by the Obama administration. Added to the ongoing fight over a deal with Iran, the head-to-head battle between the executive and legislative branches shows no signs of abating.
