SEN. VOINOVICH: SEN. MURKOWSKI IS RIGHT TO STOP EPA FROM REGULATING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and the Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, released the following statement in light of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski´s (R-Alaska) announcement of her intention to file a resolution of disapproval to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Last week the U.S. EPA declared that greenhouse gases are a dangerous pollutant.

"EPA´s endangerment finding shows the Obama Administration´s willingness to bypass the United States Congress solely to gain clout in the context of the current international climate change discussions in Copenhagen. I applaud Senator Murkowski´s disapproval resolution to stop the EPA.

"The endangerment finding sets the stage for federal regulation on everything from vehicles to farms and businesses, reaching all sectors of our economy. The Clean Air Act was designed to address traditional, localized pollutants – not climate change, which is fundamentally different than any other environmental challenge we´ve undertaken. There are many areas we must continue to work on from here."

Sen. Voinovich has been at the forefront of the debate on climate change and strategies for protecting our environment without harming our economy. His lead role in the climate change debate has helped save hundreds of thousands of Ohio jobs and protected Ohio seniors and working families from sky-rocketing natural gas, electricity and gasoline costs.