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WASHINGTON — Out on the midterm election trail, GOP members of Congress continue to rail against the EPA. They dislike the agency’s plan to begin regulating carbon emissions in January. One Ohio climate expert agrees — but only in practice, not in principle. Alice Ollstein reports from Washington.
Transcript:
David Orr is Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Ohio’s Oberlin College. He thinks it is a mistake for the EPA to be given sole authority over carbon emissions policy.
ORR: “The EPA doesn’t have an organic statute. So it’s blown around in the political winds. It’s a totally inappropriate way for a serious nation to create serious policy.”
Orr believes “serious policy” should be set by Congress — in this case with legislation that would raise the price of energy. Either through a carbon tax or a “cap-and-trade” model. Both ideas were introduced in Congress. Neither has gone anywhere yet.
House Minority leader John Boehner and Senator George Voinovich criticized the bills, saying they would mean higher energy prices and widespread job loss for Ohio.
Yet Orr has a message for politicians who say we can’t afford to tax carbon.
ORR: The short answer is, we can’t afford not to. The longer you delay the bigger the bill gets.
With Republicans predicted to win seats in November’s election, comprehensive Congressional action on the environment will face an uphill battle. Many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for Obama’s plan to tackle climate legislation in small chunks.
For 90.3, I’m Alice Ollstein, Capitol News Connection in Washington.