Inhofe Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Stay the Clean Power Plan

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Environmental and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision tonight to block the implementation of the Clean Power Plan while it is being challenged in court:

"The Supreme Court has delivered a major blow to President Obama's legacy on climate change. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to stay the implementation of the so-called Clean Power Plan while the legal challenges to that plan are proceeding is a sign the court recognizes that the Obama administration has over reached its authority. Over half of the states, 24 national trade associations, 37 rural electric cooperatives, and 3 labor unions representing 900,000 members have sued the EPA over these rules. These challenges highlight the enforceability problems, encroachment on state authority, skyrocketing electricity prices, and job losses during an already anemic economy that these regulations will cause. In the EPW Committee, we have held six hearings highlighting these problems.  In November, the Senate passed two bipartisan CRAs against EPA’s regulations which subsequently passed the U.S. House of Representatives and were vetoed by the president.  These regulations were the foundation of the president's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.  The Court’s action should demonstrate once again to the world that this president has committed the U.S. to actions that are unenforceable and legally questionable."

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