Sen. Treat Fires Back At Gov’s Veto On EPA Push Back Bill
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin vetoes bill expanding attorney general’s input on federal carbon rules
by Paul Monies
Just days after issuing an executive order stopping state agencies from developing a plan for federal carbon dioxide regulations, Gov. Mary Fallin on Friday vetoed a bill that would have expanded the role of the attorney general in the debate.
Fallin vetoed Senate Bill 676, which passed on Tuesday. The bill gave the attorney general’s office a chance to review any state response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.
“While I applaud the willingness of the legislative bodies to join the executive branch in a statement of solidarity in opposition to EPA overreach, I believe our policy goals have already been accomplished via executive order without the additional expenditure of taxpayer resources required by this bill,” Fallin said in her veto message.
The EPA expects to finalize the Clean Power Plan rules some time this summer. The regulations would require electric utilities to cut their carbon dioxide emissions 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.