Policy Update 1/19/11: Obama steps up regulatory defense

After a week of grieving over the tragedy in Tucson, members of the House returns to DC and to business as usual this week, beginning with a vote on the GOP's "job-killing health care repeal" legislation. The unfortunate events in Tucson have pushed political leaders to call for civility and bipartisanship, yet the rhetoric on Capitol Hill is as heated as ever. The Clean Air Act is up and running for carbon pollution, but remains a political target for leaders of the GOP-led House. Fortunately, the Obama administration has been more vocal in their defense of smart regulations like the Clean Air Act and rules governing mountaintop removal coal mining.

Obama Sticks up for Smart Regs

Today President Obama wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal sticking up for "common sense" laws like the Clean Air Act that benefit society. His piece promised an overhaul of regulations that may be excessive, but makes this concession while defending smart regulations that should be "tougher."

Obama's rhetoric concedes the idea that some regulations are "just plain dumb," and at the same time has multiple executive branches sticking up for smart rules that are helping the climate:

• The Department of Justice has a renewed focus on defending new rules that tackle carbon pollution.
• The EPA recently revoked a West Virginia coal mining permit for what would have been the largest mountaintop removal project in the U.S.
• Administrator Lisa Jackson acted on principle despite a concerted effort from coal companies and their allies who supported the massive mountaintop removal project.

In addition to smart choices made by the agency, Obama's non-partisan BP oil spill commission uncovered "systemic" problems that are compromising both the industry and our politics. For more coverage of the oil spill commission, check out The Hill's simple primer.

Despite Obama's strong defense of smart regulations, some members of Congress are bending to political pressure from industry and embracing preemptive compromises on core climate safeguards like the Clean Air Act. Even progressive Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D) has been flirting with the idea of blocking the Clean Air Act.

Climate News

• According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2010 was the hottest and wettest year on record.
• Unprecedented floods ravaged Australia last week and scientists are connecting the dots between climate change and these new disasters.
• National Geographic looks at the potential to power America with 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Please direct questions or comments to jason@1sky.org