Congressman Ted Poe Denounces Court Ruling on EPA Regs

Press Release

Poe continues fight to stop job-killing cap-and-trade regulations

Today, Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02) issued the following statement in response to the ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose its greenhouse gas regulations in the State of Texas. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other state officials challenged the federal government's authority to implement these regulations.

"The EPA is at war with Texas," said Poe. "The federal government has overstepped their authority. Today's ruling violates the 10th Amendment," stated Poe. "Texans and Americans across the country have rejected this policy. And despite being rejected by Congress, the administration has defiantly ignored the will of the people, and the law, to further its own political agenda.

"Countless studies have shown that this will not only jeopardize the energy industry in Texas, but will negatively affect the nation's energy supply, economy and jobless numbers," continued Poe. "More EPA control is not needed. It will not make for cleaner air -- only more expensive and unnecessary regulations."

On the first day of the 112th Congress, Rep. Poe introduced the Ensuring Affordable Energy Act. This bill will prohibit federal funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be used to implement or enforce a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases.

"This bill will put an end to any back-door attempt to go around Congress and circumvent the will of the people," said Poe. "It is absolutely necessary that Congress take immediate action on this bill to ensure that the EPA does not continue to amuck and destroy industry across the board in our country."

"The taxacrats want to control every dollar spent on energy in America," continued Poe. "They also want control over who can use it and how. Every person and business that uses energy will be taxed for the use of that energy. This scheme will bankrupt manufacturing businesses and cost American families and small businesses thousands of dollars a year in new taxes."

H.R. 153 -- The Ensuring Affordable Energy Act:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds appropriated or otherwise available for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may be used to implement or enforce--

1. A cap and trade program; or

Any statutory or regulatory requirement pertaining to emissions of one or more greenhouse gases from stationary sources that is issued or becomes applicable or effective after January 1, 2011.

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