In This Issue:
Energy and Climate Debate; Congress; Department of Commerce; Department of Energy; Department of Interior; Environmental Protection Agency; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Personnel; States; International; and Miscellaneous.
Energy and Climate Debate
As the payroll tax credit, unemployment insurance, and doc fix package debate continues in the House and Senate, energy issues are being highlighted in a number of areas.
Republicans on the House-Senate conference committee, led by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) urged the panel February 2 to delay the Environmental Protection Agency’s boiler MACT rule as it works to extend the payroll tax cut through the end of 2012. They contended that so doing would, like the payroll tax cut extension (H.R. 3630), boost the economy and save jobs. The House approved legislation (H.R. 2250, 275-142) in October to delay the rules, and there is growing bipartisan support for the Senate version (S. 1392) of the bill. House legislation extending the 2 percent payroll tax cut through the end of 2012 includes language delaying the EPA rule, but the Senate version was silent on the issue, so the conference committee must decide whether the language stays in the final measure.
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