McConnell's Defense Of Dying Coal Sector "A Travesty Of Responsible Leadership"
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In a letter sent Thursday to the National Governors Association, McConnell wrote that he has serious legal and policy concerns regarding the proposed rule, which aims to cut emissions from new coal-fired power plants 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Building off the argument he first laid out in an editorial earlier this month, he claims that the EPA is going far beyond its legal authority, and that the rule is likely to be struck down by the courts. States that refuse to comply, he asserts, wont face legal consequences. He does note, though, that if they take that route, the only recourse for the EPA is to develop and impose its own federal plan for that state, which doesnt sound like the best deal for them but it will, he argues, buy time for the courts and Congress to fight the rule.
McConnells highly unusual plan is already attracting a ton of controversy: the New York Times editorial board, earlier this month, called it reckless and shocking, argued that the senator is unfairly blaming President Obama for what in actuality has been a decades-long decline in coal mining jobs in his state, and directly called him out for undermining climate action:
Mr. McConnells call to governors to sit on their hands is a travesty of responsible leadership. What he calls extremism is the administrations eminently reasonable goal to reduce Americas greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. That pledge is the centerpiece of the climate strategy Mr. Obama hopes to present to the world in Paris in December, at the next climate summit. In that sense, Mr. McConnells defiance is more than the usual states rights rhetoric that Republicans have used to challenge other initiatives. It is an attack on this countrys credibility as a leader in the fight against climate change.
The White House, in response to McConnells letter, didnt pull any punches, either. Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges that we face, and instead of offering solutions, Sen. McConnells alternative is an inappropriate and unfounded attempt to dictate state decisions, said White House spokesman Frank Benenati.
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http://www.salon.com/2015/03/20/mcconnell_is_now_directly_telling_states_to_undermine_climate_action/