House sets up REINS Act, carbon tax vote for Friday

One of these, from Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), would require Congress to approve any regulatory proposal to tax carbon emissions.

{mosads}”I bring this amendment forward on the REINS act to simply prohibit the Obama administration from imposing a carbon tax on the United States,” Scalise said Thursday night. “If the Obama administration had their way and imposed a tax on carbon, manufacturing output in energy-intensive sectors could drop by as much as 15 percent for example.”

A vote on the Scalise amendment and several others will take place Friday morning. But the House did dispose of a few of the 12 amendments that were made in order, from:

— Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), adding to the definition of what constitutes a “major rule” to include any interim final rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would have a significant impact on a substantial amount of agricultural entities. Accepted in voice vote.

— Pete Sessions (R-Texas), requiring the agency submitting the report on a proposed federal rule to include an assessment of anticipated jobs gained or lost as a result of implementation, and if they are in the public or private sector. Accepted in voice vote.

— David McKinley (R-W.Va.), reducing the annual effect on the economy of the term ‘major rule’ from $100 million or more to $50 million or more. Accepted in voice vote.

— Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), preventing federal agencies from implementing significant policy changes without appropriate congressional review, and bringing administrative rules having an economic impact of $100 million or more as scored by the Office of Management and Budget before Congress for a vote. Accepted in voice vote.