Nelson cosponsors resolution to fight EPA overreach

January 21, 2010 -- Working to fight EPA overreach, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson announced today his support of a resolution of disapproval to be introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski which will act as a veto of EPA regulation of greenhouse gasses under the Clean Air Act.

"Controlling the levels of carbon emissions is the job of Congress. We don't need EPA looking over Congress' shoulder telling us we're not moving fast enough," said Senator Nelson.

"I am very concerned about the impact on Nebraska if EPA moves to regulate carbon emissions. Many Nebraska agricultural, industrial and energy-related businesses and organizations have warned about the costs they would have to shoulder from EPA regulations. Because EPA regulations would be a government-directed command-and-control regime, they would raise the price of energy in Nebraska, add greatly to administrative costs, and create new layers of bureaucracy. The burden would fall squarely on Nebraska families, farmers and businesses," Nelson added.

"Carbon emissions should be reduced, but not through costly and complicated EPA regulations or a disadvantageous cap and trade proposal in Congress. They should be reduced through a comprehensive energy bill that promotes efficiencies and renewable energy through innovation and new technology that will help our state's economy as we clean up the air."

Nelson was among more than three dozen senators cosponsoring the Murkowski resolution. The legislation is supported by many groups in Nebraska including: Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association, Nebraska Soybean Association, Nebraska Wheat Board, Nebraska Wheat Growers Association, Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, Nebraska Rural Electric Association, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and MidAmerican Energy.