Murkowski Move Would Block New Energy and Environmental Policies

The
League of Women Voters of the United States today announced its strong
opposition to S.J. Res. 26, sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK),
which would block action by the Environmental Protection Agency under
the Clean Air Act to rein in the pollution that is causing climate
change and threatening communities here and around the world. The
Senate is expected to consider the Murkowski resolution soon, possibly
as early as this week.

"At this critical time, when our nation needs new energy and
environmental policies, Senator Murkowski's resolution of disapproval
is just more waffling and waiting. It will block action to stop
pollution, reinforce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, and
undermine the move to a new, clean-energy, clean-jobs economy," said
Mary G. Wilson, president of the national League.

"The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the recent coal-mine tragedy
in West Virginia point to our dead end and dangerous energy policies,"
Wilson maintained.

"The Murkowski resolution does nothing to make things better," said
Wilson. "It is only a negative action - and at a time when positive
steps on energy are essential to national security, jobs, the economy
and the planet."

"The Murkowski resolution puts public health at risk and jeopardizes
long-overdue action to cut emissions from the biggest polluters,"
according to Wilson. She said that the League is mobilizing its
members and 850 affiliates around the country to urge their Senators to
vote against the resolution.

The Clean Air Act has a 40-year track record of cutting dangerous
pollution and protecting human health and the environment. In 2007,
the Supreme Court ruled that global warming pollutants are covered by
the Clean Air Act, and last May President Obama took action under this
ruling by issuing landmark clean vehicle standards that will save
consumers money at the gas pump, cut global warming pollution and
reduce America's oil dependence. Now, EPA has begun to regulate the
pollutants spewing from major power plants.

"The Murkowski resolution would block this progress and overrule sound,
scientific decisions by EPA," Wilson pointed out. "Senators should kill
this resolution and keep moving to pass new climate and energy
legislation."