Congress of late hold up the whim of the President and voted to increase federal scientific discipline fund passably muchacross the board . Shortly afterwards , the House pushed through a catastrophe of ahealthcare billdesigned to replace the Affordable Care Act . It ’s dependable to say that the last few weeks have been a mixed bag .
So when it came to a vote on an Obama - era climate measure , one that is designed to limit methane emissions from crude oil and gas boring , the money was on it being overturn . However , as reported byReuters , it was n’t – and it was because three Republican Senators dissented and voted alongside the Democrats , 51 - 49 against .
This really does n’t go thepatternwe’ve reckon over the retiring few age , at least when it comes to the GOP . Trump , after all , justsigned awayplenty of clime variety mitigation measure viaexecutive order , and the Republican - dominated Congress has been keen to repeal as many environmental protection measures as possible .
Like many others , the methane emission restriction was put up for debate using theCongressional Review Act , which enables Congress to revoke federal legislation imposed in the last 60 day of government . When it comes to environmental policy , the parties unremarkably vote along partisan lines , and see as the Republicans have majorities in both the House and Senate , they ’ve get the advantage here .
And yet Senators John McCain , Susan Collins , and Lindsey Graham voted against the rule ’s abrogation . Thanks in part to their intervention , 180,000 tonne of methane will no longer be entering the Earth ’s atmosphere . Considering it ’s a greenhouse accelerator pedal 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide – albeit a suddenly - subsist one – this is smashing news program for mood variety counselor .
It ’s not like the three of them have a substantial record of environmentalism either . Their lifetime National Environmental Scorecards – calculated ground on their voting records – arepretty dire . McCain is on 20 per centum , and Graham is on 13 percentage . Collins , to be sightly , is on 65 percent .
Perhaps , though , they are coming around to the cause . McCain , for his part , said in astatementthat “ better the ascendency of methane emissions is an crucial public wellness and air quality issue . ”
“ I join the call for warm action to reduce pollution from venting , flaring and leaks relate with oil colour and gas production operations on public and Indian land . ” McCain say he prefers a revise of the current rule – the effort to overturn it , if successful , would set a dangerous precedent in proscribe them to try and protect the environment .
One other point worth mentioning , however , is thatallthreeSenators areharsh criticsof the President . There ’s a chance that their rebelliousness on this payoff may not be entirely coincidental .
