It should surprise no one that Republican lawmakers are pitching a fit over the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules on power plant emissions. After all, whenever the EPA actually tries to do its job, Republican heads explode. But last night, one Republican congressman went way off the deep end. He claimed that by pushing these new rules, the EPA has become a terrorist organization.
Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district, which stretches from Erie to the outer northern and eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. Yesterday, he took part in a Heritage Foundation panel discussion on the EPA’s new rules. The title suggested things could get ugly: “Extremism at the EPA: A Discussion on Federal Overreach, Regulation Costs, and Climate Realities.” But Kelly’s comments exceeded even those expectations. He suggested that the new rules smacked of terrorism.
?You talk about terrorism ? you can do it in a lot of different ways. But you terrorize the people who supply everything this country needs to be great ? and you keep them on the sidelines ? my goodness, what have we become?”
When a reporter for WPXI in Pittsburgh pressed Kelly on his “terrorism” remarks, Kelly replied that the EPA’s rules “keep you from even trying to get there.” To his mind, such regulations “make it impossible for you to compete.” Gee, Mike–couldn’t you have made that point without going so far off the deep end? Then again, when you sit in a nicely gerrymandered R+8 district, you don’t have to worry about such things.
Kelly was there to promote his “Coal Country Protection Act,” which would bar any new rules limiting emissions from power plants unless the EPA receives certification that they will not result in the loss of jobs, lower the GDP, raise rates or adversely affect electricity delivery. In a press release, Kelly claims this law is necessary to stop the White House’s “war on coal.” He invited President Obama to come to western Pennsylvania and talk to the people there about coal. But it’s awfully hard to take Kelly seriously if he claims the EPA is no different from al-Qaeda.
Watch the video below.?Kelly’s remarks start at the 6:00 mark. Then let us know what you think at the Liberal America Facebook page.
Darrell Lucus is a radical-lefty Jesus-lover who has been blogging for change for a decade. Follow him on Twitter @DarrellLucus or connect with him on Facebook.
