Congressman Simpson joins 171 Representatives and 34 Senators in supporting states challenge to EPA’s Clean Power Plant Rule
Washington, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson signed an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court” brief in support of 27 states that challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule on existing power plants. The Clean Power Plant rule was recently stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court and is awaiting further consideration by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia.
“I am extremely disappointed, but sadly not surprised that the President is using his final months in office to promote costly regulations,” said Simpson. “The Obama Administration’s rule on existing power plants impose a regulatory structure on our nation’s energy sector that is simply not viable, and even worse, it forces the American people to foot the bill.”
Simpson has long opposed efforts to impose unworkable regulations on the energy sector that would do little to improve climate conditions but would impose prohibitive costs to consumers. In December, Congressman Simpson supported legislation that would employ the Congressional Review Act to ensure that the rule on existing power plant regulations would not go into effect. This bill passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by President Obama. Congressman Simpson has also supported language in appropriations bills that would block the EPA from implementing these regulations on new and existing power plants.
The primary argument of the brief involves an Article I v. Article II controversy regarding the discretion of the executive branch to make rules without authority.
“With an executive branch that has shown little regard for the coequal legislative branch, Congress must do everything within its authority to protect the American people from regulations that will impact their finances to this degree,” said Simpson. “The amicus brief filed today is a message to President Obama that regulations that reach this far into the lives of Americans will be challenged.”
