Reply #2: Senate effort to repeal mercury emissions rule defeated

[Judi Lynn]

Senate effort to repeal mercury emissions rule defeated

By JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press Writer

September 13, 2005, 1:37 PM EDT


WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Tuesday narrowly turned back a challenge to the Bush administration's strategy on mercury pollution, leaving intact federal rules that give power plants flexibility in how they reduce emissions of the dangerous toxin.

With a 51-47 vote, the Senate defeated a resolution to void Environmental Protection Agency rules finalized last March. The Democrats and nine Republicans who supported the repeal contended the EPA approach was too slow and too weak in dealing with a pollutant that can cause serious neurological damage to newborn and young children.

The White House insisted that its market-based approach to curtailing mercury pollution is effective and founded on sound science, and warned that the president would veto any legislation that overturned the EPA rules.

"In reality this is a political exercise in futility," said Environment and Public Works Committee chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla. "Who in this chamber would truly believe that the president would sign legislation to repeal his own administration's rule?"
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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--congress-mercury0913sep13,0,3005655.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork