Republican Senate Majority to Focus on Keystone, EPA Carbon Rule

With climate denier James Inhofe (R-OK) set to chair the Environment and Public Works Committee and fellow denier Ted Cruz (R-TX) taking the gavel of the Committee on Science and Technology, the new Republican majority in the U.S. Senate “is already gearing up to cause climate mayhem,” Grist reported in its morning-after summary of the country’s mid-term elections November 4.

“The Republicans have two top energy-related demands: stop EPA [the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] from regulating CO2 and approve the Keystone XL pipeline,” Adler writes. Both files are shaping up as major legislative battles for President Barack Obama’s last two years in office.

“With control of both houses of Congress, Republicans can pass any bill they want unless Senate Democrats threaten a filibuster,” Adler explains. “That doesn’t mean Republicans can enact any law they want. Obama can veto their bills, and now his little-used veto pen will be put to work. But Obama can’t simply prevent the GOP from doing anything at all.”

“We know the Republicans are going to make Keystone a priority, but this isn’t their call,” 350.org Executive Director May Boeve said Tuesday night. “President Obama has the power to reject the Keystone pipeline outright, and do right by his own legacy. We’re gearing up to hold his feet to the fire—and we’re confident that when everything’s said and done, Keystone XL will not be built.”