Debt ceiling isn’t place for climate fight, says House Republican

A senior House Republican who opposes federal climate change regulations doesn’t want to fight that battle in negotiations over the debt ceiling.

Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), a senior Energy and Commerce Committee member, told Environment & Energy Daily that he wants a “clean” debt-ceiling increase free of climate riders.

{mosads}Whitfield, who alleges the power plant rules are a major threat to the coal industry and jobs, chairs the Energy and Power Subcommittee.

House Republicans — along with some centrist Democrats — have voted repeatedly to block greenhouse gas regulations, but the bills haven’t advanced in the Senate.

{mosads}Whitfield is reportedly working on a new bill that would make Environmental Protection Agency standards less restrictive.

Click here for the whole Environment & Energy Daily story.

— This story was updated at 2:24 p.m.