MATS is Inefficient, Costly Regulation

Jun 19, 2012

Utah currently receives approximately 95 percent of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, and plans are in place to build more.  I stand alongside Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma in opposition to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule (also commonly called the Utility MACT rule) devised by the Environmental Protection Agency.

This unnecessary and expensive regulation will cost the electric power sector approximately $100 billion, more than all other EPA air rules combined.  The National Economic Research Associates found that the MATS rule would kill as many as 215,000 jobs by 2015. Thus far, 169 coal-fuel electric generating units located across 21 states have had to be prematurely retired due to the threats posed by MATS and other EPA regulations.  Over 27,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity will be retired within the next three years, raising concerns about electric reliability at the local level. 

EPA figures show that more than 99.99 percent of quantified health benefits attributed to the MATS rule are due to reductions in fine particles, not reductions in mercury emissions. The EPA already regulates fine particles under other parts of the Clean Air Act.  Additionally, coal-fueled power plants have already reduced mercury emissions by 60 percent without the MATS rule.

Excessive regulation of the power sector forces coal plants to shut down prematurely which will significantly raise energy prices for Americans. MATS and other EPA regulations increase operation costs for plants, drive up prices for consumers, and kill thousands of jobs. That’s why we need regulation reform, such as the REINS Act, to ensure that all major regulations that significantly affect our economy go through the proper legislative channels before they are made official policy. 

Until then, I firmly support S. J. Res. 37, and stand with a growing bipartisan group of Senators, private sector unions, and business interests who believe we can do better than imposing these kinds of regulations on the American people.


Regulating the Regulators

Jun 19, 2012

We can have sensible regulations that keep our air and our water and other aspects of our environment clean. We need those things; we want those things as Americans. We can also have a balanced approach that considers the economic cost of new rules and restrictions on small businesses and on consumers. That's what we need.

The Fight to End Energy Subsidies -- Day Lee Briefing 6/18/2012

Jun 18, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee is meeting with constituents. He will also vote on the nomination of Mary Lewis Geiger for US District Judge for South Carolina.

 

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

 Relief from Greek election likely to be fleeting

Greece's election result has eased fears of an imminent financial disaster for Europe, but the region's indebted governments remain under heavy pressure. Spain and Italy are fighting to keep their borrowing costs down and European leaders are struggling to find agreement on how best to fix the shared currency's deeper problems.

 

Looming health care ruling will be among Supreme Court’s most important

Winners and losers are the natural consequence of the American legal system. In the Supreme Court, five majority votes among the nine members are enough to fundamentally change lives and legacies.

 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Treatment Communities of America. He will also attend a breakfast hosted by the Association of American Railroads.

Utahn Competes in Annual National HIstory Fair: Produces Website About Creator of Video Games

Jun 18, 2012

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Grant Amann from Sandy, Utah. He was in DC to compete in the National History Fair. Every year students from across the U.S. create a project that is fitted to a yearly theme. This year's theme was "Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History." Grant competed in teh Website category, and created a website that was centered around the creator of the video game: Ralph Baer.

Weekly Wrap-up: Eric Holder -- Day Lee Briefing 06/15/12

Jun 15, 2012

This week, Attorney General Eric Holder was questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The main issue was Holder’s continued appearance to be hiding things from Congress, whether the problem is national security leaks or Operation Fast and Furious, the gun-walking campaign that sent thousands of guns to drug cartels and resulted in the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. Holder has been uncooperative and has provided different sets of answers at every single stage of the investigation of the operation, and many members of Congress are now calling for his resignation.

Below are just a few of the videos about Holder’s testimony and answers to questioning that were uploaded this week:

 

 

 

And here are two articles about Holder from this week:

Senate Judiciary Committee Puts Holder’s Feet to Fire

Attorney General Eric Holder testified at a hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon, discussing voter laws, the New York Times' national security leaks, and, of course, Operation Fast and Furious. It was more of the same, as Democrats came to Mr. Holder’s defense while the Republicans tried to pry out direct answers to withering questions.
 

Who had the worst week in Washington? Attorney General Eric Holder.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. spent the week in the Washington hot seat — and there’s little evidence that his perch is going to get cooler anytime soon.

Finally, below are some of the week’s best tweets about Holder:

Lee Backs Calls for Enforcing “Leahy-Thurmond Rule” on Judges

Jun 14, 2012

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee responded to reports that Senate Republicans would begin enforcing the “Leahy-Thurmond Rule,” an historic practice in presidential years when the Senate stops confirming certain judicial nominees. 

“I am pleased that the Republican caucus has decided to enforce the Leahy-Thurmond rule and cease confirming appeals court nominees until after the presidential election,” said Lee, a member of the Judiciary Committee.  “It is particularly important that we do so now in light of the unconstitutional ‘recess’ appointments President Obama made earlier this year.  The President must be held accountable for his unprecedented and illegitimate assertion that he may unilaterally determine when the Senate is in session.  I join Leader McConnell, Senator Grassley, and others in opposing President Obama’s abuse of power and curtailing additional appellate confirmations between now and the election.”

Constitutional Conflicts -- Day Lee Briefing 6/14/2012

Jun 14, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will meet with finalists in the University of Utah clean energy competition, and with representatives of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and the National Young Leaders Conference.

 

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

 

Italian borrowing rates jump as debt fears spread

Italy's borrowing costs jumped on Thursday, a symptom of market fears the country may follow Spain in needing foreign financial aid, as Premier Mario Monti prepared to meet France's new president, Francois Hollande, to discuss how to save the 17-nation eurozone.

 

Jobless claims on the rise

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits climbed last week, indicating continued trouble for the labor market.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will speak at the Faith & Freedom Conference at 9:30 PM EDT (7:30 MDT).

Senator Lee Recognizes the 237th Anniversary of the U.S. Army

Jun 14, 2012

In 1775, our Founding Fathers established the Continental Army. Over the past 237 years the U.S. Army has become an elite fighting force charged with protecting America and her interests at home and abroad.

Keeping an Eye on the 9th Circuit -- Day Lee Briefing 6/13/2012

Jun 13, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the American Heritage School Tour. He will also be a guest on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends at 7:15 AM EDT (5:15 MDT) and KSL Radio’s Utah Morning News with Grant and Amanda at 10:45 AM EDT (8:45 MDT).

 

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

French president warns Greeks over euro

The new French president has warned Greeks that if they vote to move away from international bailout commitments in the upcoming election, they could be pushed out of the eurozone.

 

Iran, North Korea, Sudan rack up millions by trading UN carbon credits

The U.N. is funneling millions of dollars worth of tradable carbon credits to corrupt nations worldwide, including Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Uzbekistan in an attempt to encourage clean energy projects in the developing world.

 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and the National Young Leaders Conference.

Exercising Caution with the Ninth Circuit Court -- Day Lee Briefing 06/12/12

Jun 12, 2012

Today’s Agenda 

Today, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of Court Appointed Special Advocates and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He will also question Attorney General Eric Holder in a Judiciary Committee hearing, and be a guest on KNRS radio at 6:20 PM EDT (4:20 MDT).

 

From the Senator’s Desk 

 

On Twitter

SenMikeLee
Watch: my questions to AG Eric #Holder from earlier today:http://ow.ly/bxa2v #tcot #utpol

SenLeeComs
.@WSJ: Obama's Real Spending Record http://on.wsj.com/LiO3vU#WSJ #MakingItWorse

SenLeePressSec
VIDEO: Sen. Lee discusses his opposition to 9th circuit nominee#Hurwitz, citing work on Roe v. Wade: http://bit.ly/LGN8JO

SenLeeResearch
@SenMikeLee on exercising caution with nominees to the#NinthCircuit Court of Appeals: http://bit.ly/Nwn6tk #judiciary #tcot#tlot

 

Around the Water Cooler

Republicans want outside prosecutor to probe leaks

Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday fended off Republican demands that he appoint a special counsel outside of the Justice Department to look into national security leaks.
 

May budget deficit up from year earlier

The U.S. government posted a budget deficit of $125 billion in May, more than twice the level registered in the same month last year.

 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the American Heritage School Tour. He will also be a guest on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends at 7:15 AM EDT (5:15 MDT) and KSL Radio’s Utah Morning News with Grant and Amanda at 10:45 AM EDT (8:45 MDT).