Today in Washington, politics happened. From The Hill:
An Environmental Protection Agency official said during a Tuesday hearing that a House Republican-sponsored bill would “cripple” the agency’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This concern failed to change the Republicans’ minds.
The building where the same old thing happened yet again today.
The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing discussed a bill (H.R. 4255) that would eliminate EPA’s ability to offer financial assistance for international greenhouse gas reduction activities.
Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), the bill’s sponsor, called it a “non-controversial bill.” He packaged the bill as a way to cut the federal deficit, though EPA has spent just $140 million on such foreign grants since 2001 — most of which were authorized under former President George W. Bush.
Republicans said deficit cutting has to start somewhere, acknowledging that the total tab for EPA’s foreign grants program is minor.
Surprisingly, Whitfield voted against cutting subsidies for oil companies.
This big ol’ world just keeps on turnin’.
