Senior House Republicans are considering using a must-pass government funding bill to block President Barack Obama's new rule to limit greenhouse gas pollution from coal-fired power plants.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water, told Bloomberg News the funding ban "will be" in the interior panel's government funding legislation.
He isn't the only influential Republican who's interested in inserting a provision in appropriations legislation to prohibit implementation of the regulation unveiled this month by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), who chairs the subcommittee on interior-environment, said Republicans will "take a serious look at" barring funds for the EPA rule, according to Bloomberg. He said the inclusion of such a provision wouldn't surprise him because "[t]here's great interest from a lot of members."
Congress has three and a half months before funding expires. Republicans could theoretically shift strategy and remove the provision before final passage on the House floor. Or they could pass it and spark a battle with Senate Democrats and the White House with the prospect of another government shutdown looming when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
In other words, the GOP is about to try to start another government shutdown fight that may shut down the federal government just weeks before midterm elections. Let me know how that works out for you, guys.
By all means, put another shutdown fight in the news five weeks before midterms. Please. Then watch what happens.
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