Will the Senate finally vote to vacate a major EPA air rule?
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which was finalized in July for the alleged purpose of reducing the emissions from MidWest power plants that waft eastward.
The resolution only needs 51 votes to pass the Senate and there are 47 Republicans, plus a number of Democrats that are likely to vote for the resolution including Sens. Ben Nelson (Nebraska), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Joe Manchin (West Virginia). Other coal state Democrats will be under heavy pressure from both sides.
A Paul spokesman told Environment and Energy Daily,
We have over that [51-vote] threshold.
We shall see.