The Senate Appropriations Committee abruptly halted consideration of the FY 2015 Energy and Water Development Appropriation because of amendments to stop the progress of two controversial proposed EPA regulations. Proposed rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions and to define Waters of the U.S. have attracted significant opposition in Congress, including some Democratic Senators who are in close re-election battles this year. Three of those Senators sit on the Appropriations Committee and could potentially vote for these amendments to alter or stop development of rules proposed by the Obama Administration. The House version of the legislation was approved by the House Appropriations Committee this week and prohibits funding for the Clean Water Act rule, and admonishes EPA for quietly recalculating costs and benefits to favor the greenhouse gas rule.
