Inhofe Informant: Outrage over EPA`s Oklahoma Decision -- EPA is Going After Oklahoma and Texas

Every week the Inhofe Informant from Senator Inhofe brings us up to date on what is happening in the Senate and the Government. This issue was filled with the facts that shows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is totally out of control.

If someone running for President wants an issue to run, we have a suggestion: Disband the EPA and put their responsibilities back under a cabinet secretary. The EPA for years has been going off on their own attacking states at will while putting the environment and creatures ahead of people. Time to end this runaway agency and get some common sense back in the discussion. Most of us are conservationists but we don't put a trap door spider ahead of people or building when you can go in the next county and find more.

If there is one agency responsible for hurting our economy, lay the blame right at the feet of the EPA and their ridiculous rules. We need new refineries and to upgrade the ones we have but EPA rules are so expensive and cumbersome, you cannot get approval. Now we have a President who backs them 100%.

Republicans better get their act together and elect someone in the primaries who can oust Obama, his czars, and his cabinet. If someone has high negatives, they don't need to apply. We need a good candidate who can win and someone like a Palin or Gingrich who independents hate should not even be in the conversation but some websites and supporters cannot help themselves. If you ran in 2008, you also don't need to apply.

This email from Senator Inhofe shows a small part of what the EPA is up to and how important it is that we 'Take the Senate' in 2012 and oust this President. Reality check needed in some circles and the games being played need to stop. This is deadly serious what is going on in DC and we need someone with the backbone to clean it up. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty certainly has the backbone as he was not afraid to take on his state's Democrat legislature and found ways to win via the rules. He didn't quit during his term and he was bucking all odds with the Democrats in charge of the legislature.

Inhofe Informant: Outrage over EPA`s Oklahoma Decision
Dear Friends,

This week, I was outraged after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rejected Oklahoma’s State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze. Instead of allowing the state to work with the local utility companies, the EPA will now place unelected bureaucrats in charge of devising a plan of cleaning the air. This power grab on the part of the EPA is unacceptable and will surely negatively impact consumers.

INHOFE: EPA OVERREACHES IN OKLAHOMA
March 7, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today criticized the Environmental Protection Agency for rejecting Oklahoma’s State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze and moving forward with a federal plan.

“State officials in Oklahoma did the right thing: they worked with state utilities to devise a plan that will continue progress in cleaning the air while ensuring affordable, reliable electricity for consumers," Senator Inhofe said. "But that was too much for the Obama EPA, which rejected the Oklahoma-led plan in favor of their preferred scheme to put Washington bureaucrats in charge and, ultimately, to make fossil-fuel-based electricity more expensive for consumers.

“Oklahoma’s consumers, including families, farmers, and manufacturers, will bear the brunt of this regulatory power grab. Through my leadership position on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, I will do everything I can to work with Oklahoma officials to protect consumers from EPA’s attack on affordable electricity.”

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As the threat of a federal government shutdown loomed, I supported a two week continuing resolution to fund the government and cut $4 billion in unnecessary spending. In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass a fiscally responsible budget.

Recently, the Oklahoma congressional delegation stood in unity by supporting my legislation, the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011. This legislation will prevent the EPA from backdoor cap-and-trade regulations by protecting jobs in America’s manufacturing sectors, placing Congress in charge of the nation’s climate change policies, protecting consumers from higher energy costs, and ensuring that the public health provisions of the clean air act are preserved. With gasoline prices near $4 a gallon, the last thing we need is bureaucratic regulations that will result in increased energy costs.

OKLAHOMA DELEGATION UNITED AGAINST OBAMA BACKDOOR ENERGY TAX

March 3, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Oklahoma Congressional delegation today stood in unity against President Obama’s backdoor cap-and-trade energy tax with all of the members of the Oklahoma Congressional delegation supporting the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011, introduced today by U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Representative Fred Upton (R-MI-6), Chairman of the House Energy Committee, has introduced the House version of the bill. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is an original cosponsor in the Senate and Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK-1), Vice Chair on the Energy and Power Subcommittee, is an original cosponsor in the House.

The bill stops the Obama EPA's back-door cap-and-trade regulations from taking effect, and thereby:

- Protects jobs in America's manufacturing sector;

- Protects consumers from higher energy costs;

- Puts Congress in charge of the nation's climate change policies; and

- Ensures that the public health provisions of the Clean Air Act are preserved.

Inhofe said: “As the price of gasoline nears $4 a gallon, consumers can't afford to pay for the Obama EPA's back-door cap-and-trade regulations, which will inevitably mean higher prices for gasoline and electricity. The Energy Tax Prevention Act protects consumers and their budgets. Further, the Energy Tax Prevention Act also imposes accountability. It takes power away from unelected bureaucrats and puts it where it belongs: in Congress, where the people can and should decide the nation's climate change policy."

Sullivan said: “As the Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee that will review this bill in the House, I look forward to working with Chairman Upton and Senator Inhofe to move this legislation forward to strip the EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, something the Clean Air Act was never intended to do. The Obama Administration is determined to push a job killing national energy tax on the American people – which would be particularly devastating to a leading energy producing state like Oklahoma – and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Inhofe-Upton bill and to join my colleagues in this important effort to rein in an out of control EPA.”

Rep. Dan Boren (D–OK-2) said: "The EPA has gone unchecked for far too long. Administrator Jackson has tried to legislate rather than take direction from Congress that is elected by the people. I am proud to join my fellow colleagues from Oklahoma in signing on to legislation that will allow the people to have a voice in their government.”

Rep. Tom Cole: (R–OK-4) said: "With the volatile situation in the Middle East threatening catastrophic gas price increases, the last thing we need to do is raise energy costs ourselves through crippling regulations. The EPA's plan to implement cap and trade circumvents both Congress and the wishes of the American people. The Energy Tax Prevention Act would prevent this terrible policy from destroying jobs and raising energy costs, and I join Sen. Inhofe and the entire Oklahoma congressional delegation in strong support of this important legislation."

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK-3) said: "The EPA's rush to regulate greenhouse gases is nothing more than a national energy tax, and the effects will be far-reaching to businesses, consumers, and even more so to rural America. Whether it’s the fuel in the tractor, the fertilizer for the crops, or the delivery of food to the grocery store, agriculture uses a great deal of energy throughout production. I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort."

Rep. James Lankford (R-OK-5) said: “We cannot penalize traditional energy sources while we wait more than 20 years for sufficient quantities of alternative energy sources to come online, yet the EPA seems to think that depriving American oil and natural gas producers of jobs and more capital will somehow help power our cars and heat our homes. These back door cap-and-trade regulations and taxes are not the key to prosperity. It is in the best interest of our state and our country for Congress to reclaim its authority from unelected bureaucracies and begin to craft a domestic energy policy that utilizes all the tremendous resources our nation possesses.”

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During two hearings at the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, I considered the nomination of U.S. Army Gen Martin E. Dempsey as Chief of Staff of the Army. In review of the Defense Authorization Request of FY2012, I also questioned Adm. Eric T. Olson and U.S. Gen. James N. Mattis on the current ground conditions in Afghanistan.

/s/ Jim Inhofe