Political Quotes

“Texas has some of the most highly industrialized and populated areas in the Nation, and air quality in these and other areas of the State is improving. We are actually taking very positive steps toward reduction of pollutants. For example, ozone has been reduced by 27 percent across our State since 2000, and nitrogen oxide, a precursor to ozone formation, has been reduced by 58 percent over roughly the same period of time. But I rise in support of this resolution because it represents regulatory overreach and an abuse of power. This rule, when it takes effect January 1, will significantly harm grid reliability, destroy jobs, and raise electricity prices for consumers living on a fixed income and for businesses we are depending upon to create jobs in our country. The reason this rule is an abuse of power as regards to the State of Texas is that we were not included in the rule when the Environmental Protection Agency first proposed it. Suddenly, miraculously, we were included in the final rule. Having less than a year ago concluded that Texas emissions have no significant downwind effects, the EPA has reversed course and included us in this rule without the opportunity to challenge the claim. Without fair notice, the EPA has mandated that Texas slash its SO<INF>2</INF> emissions by half and greatly reduce NO<INF>X</INF> emissions in less than 5 months--an unprecedented and impossible timetable with which to comply.…”