Landrieu, Murkowski collaborate on plan to block EPA climate rules

By Ben Geman
The Hill
Jan. 21, 2010

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) told reporters Wednesday that she is working with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Murkowski's efforts to block EPA from regulating greenhouse gases under the agency's current Clean Air Act powers.

Murkowski's spokesman recently said Murkowski's effort had attracted a Democratic backer -- the aide didn't say who -- and that she is reaching out to other Democrats too.

"I am considering that right now," Landrieu said when asked whether she backed Murkowski's plan. "I have been working with her on it."

Landrieu said she is not yet ready to announce anything but believes the Clean Air Act is not meant to be applied to carbon dioxide emissions.

She is a strong ally of oil-and-gas producers and refiners.

Murkowski could offer an amendment to debt legislation as soon as this week that would halt planned EPA rules to regulate emissions from sources like power plants and factories.

But she may also drop that plan, and instead seek a formal "resolution of disapproval" that would overturn EPA's recent "endangerment finding" that greenhouse gases threaten human welfare. The finding is a precursor to any EPA emissions rules.

Murkowski spokesman Robert Dillon said Murkowski will give a floor speech Thursday that reveals what approach she will take.