In The News

Murkowski bill goes to the Senate

Many inside the Washington, DC, Beltway were preparing for a battle Thursday as the U.S. Senate examines a proposal to keep the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions – and potentially drive up diesel prices for truck drivers.

Last summer, the U.S. House approved a cap-and-trade emissions plan that would likely drive up oil and refined diesel prices if it were to become law. Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman unveiled their own climate change bill in May.

The EPA has made noise about enforcing greenhouse gas emission regulations with or without a law.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, is chief sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 26, a resolution scheduled to be voted on Thursday on the Senate Floor that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases.

OOIDA supports the resolution.

The proposal is expected to divide the Senate’s members during an already contentious election year. Murkowski does have bipartisan support.

On Wednesday, OOIDA issued a Call to Action for its members, asking them to contact their U.S. Senators and register their opinion on Sen. Murkowski’s resolution. In the past, OOIDA has resisted cap and trade measures and the concept of EPA regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

“I think it’s very important that our members make their voices heard, and make their viewpoint known to all our elected officials,” said Mike Joyce, OOIDA director of legislative affairs. “The Murkowski amendment is a test of where the congress will go in the coming weeks and months in regards to climate change and energy policy.”

“U.S. Senators need to understand the impact that legislation and regulation could have on the trucking industry,” Joyce said. “This is a very difficult time in our nation’s economy, and truckers are struggling to survive. They need the ear of the Congress, not additional burdens placed upon their livelihood. With that in mind, we support Senator Murkowski’s resolution.”

On Wednesday, news reports showed that Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, would join several other Democrat Senators in supporting Murkowski’s resolution.

“I intend to vote for Sen. Murkowski’s Resolution of Disapproval because I believe we must send a strong message that the fate of West Virginia’s economy, our manufacturing industries, and our workers should not be solely in the hands of EPA,” Rockefeller said in a statement.

OOIDA believes the U.S. should pursue “logical policies that provide us with energy independence, moving us away from dependence on foreign oil,” states the Association’s Call to Action.

“OOIDA has supported certain ‘green initiatives’ and has been a partner with the EPA SmartWay Transport Program, encouraging truckers to consider idle-reduction technologies like auxiliary power units. OOIDA was also helpful in drafting a Model Idle Law that would have provided protections for truckers trying to rest and comply with Hours of Service regulations.”

– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer
[email protected] inside the Washington, DC, Beltway were preparing for a battle Thursday as the U.S. Senate examines a proposal to keep the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions – and potentially drive up diesel prices for truck drivers.

Last summer, the U.S. House approved a cap-and-trade emissions plan that would likely drive up oil and refined diesel prices if it were to become law. Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman unveiled their own climate change bill in May.

The EPA has made noise about enforcing greenhouse gas emission regulations with or without a law.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, is chief sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 26, a resolution scheduled to be voted on Thursday on the Senate Floor that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases.

OOIDA supports the resolution.

The proposal is expected to divide the Senate’s members during an already contentious election year. Murkowski does have bipartisan support.

On Wednesday, OOIDA issued a Call to Action for its members, asking them to contact their U.S. Senators and register their opinion on Sen. Murkowski’s resolution. In the past, OOIDA has resisted cap and trade measures and the concept of EPA regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

“I think it’s very important that our members make their voices heard, and make their viewpoint known to all our elected officials,” said Mike Joyce, OOIDA director of legislative affairs. “The Murkowski amendment is a test of where the congress will go in the coming weeks and months in regards to climate change and energy policy.”

“U.S. Senators need to understand the impact that legislation and regulation could have on the trucking industry,” Joyce said. “This is a very difficult time in our nation’s economy, and truckers are struggling to survive. They need the ear of the Congress, not additional burdens placed upon their livelihood. With that in mind, we support Senator Murkowski’s resolution.”

On Wednesday, news reports showed that Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, would join several other Democrat Senators in supporting Murkowski’s resolution.

“I intend to vote for Sen. Murkowski’s Resolution of Disapproval because I believe we must send a strong message that the fate of West Virginia’s economy, our manufacturing industries, and our workers should not be solely in the hands of EPA,” Rockefeller said in a statement.

OOIDA believes the U.S. should pursue “logical policies that provide us with energy independence, moving us away from dependence on foreign oil,” states the Association’s Call to Action.

“OOIDA has supported certain ‘green initiatives’ and has been a partner with the EPA SmartWay Transport Program, encouraging truckers to consider idle-reduction technologies like auxiliary power units. OOIDA was also helpful in drafting a Model Idle Law that would have provided protections for truckers trying to rest and comply with Hours of Service regulations.”

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