June 20, 2012

White House will veto Inhofe's bill to weaken mercury protections

The White House has threatened to veto a Congressional Review Act repeal of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, if S.J. Res. 37 is presented to President Obama.


The Executive Office of the President released a statement disapproving of Sen. Inhofe's (R-OK) resolution that would prevent the EPA from limiting mercury and other air toxins from power plants. Inhofe's bill would block the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that protect children, seniors, the infirm, and everyone else from air pollutants from air pollution such as mercury and arsenic that are emitted from coal-burning power plants. 


The standards "will prevent as many as 11,000 avoidable premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks, annually. The annual value of these health benefits alone is estimated to be as much as $90 billion." The veto threat makes it easier for moderate Democrats and Republicans to oppose Inhofe's resolution because they can argue that S.J. Res 37 will never become law, so its futile debate and vote on it.

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