Senate

Senate passes ‘clean water’ budget amendments

by Jordain Carney - 03/25/15 5:57 PM ET

The Senate passed a pair of “clean water” amendments to the Republican budget Wednesday.

Ninety-nine senators voted to include an amendment from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) that would establish a deficit neutral reserve fund, essentially a budgetary placeholder, on “keeping the Federal Water Pollution Control Act focused on protection of water quality.” It also outlines what falls within federal jurisdiction and “create clear and unambiguous exemptions” for the Environmental Protection Agency.

{mosads}Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who launched his 2016 presidential bid Monday, didn’t vote.

Senators also voted 59-40 to pass an amendment by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), that he painted as an effort to rein in the EPA.

Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) broke with Democrats and voted with Republicans for Barrasso’s measure. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) also voted with Republicans.

The Wyoming Republican suggested that his amendment, unlike Stabenow’s, included concerns from urban officials.

“My amendment …addresses concerns raised by the U.S. conference of mayors… who want certainty on the EPA’s power grab,” he said before the vote. “If you believe the Waters of the U.S. rule doesn’t go far enough. That the federal government should be in the business of regulating puddles in your constituents’ backyards, then vote against my amendment.”

But, Stabenow suggested that senators didn’t need to pass both amendments.

“I think my amendment is stronger and much more specific. …We don’t need two different amendments,” she said. “The Barrasso amendment is very general, very broad. …It would keep the confusion that’s out there.”