WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding the Obama administration’s new job-killing EPA regulations and their effects on American families and Kentucky’s coal jobs and economy:
“Today’s announcement is a dagger in the heart of the American middle class, and to representative Democracy itself. Already reeling from the painful effects of Obamacare, the American people are now being told they have to shoulder the burdens of the President’s latest ‘solution’ in the form of higher costs, fewer jobs, and a less reliable energy grid. The fact that the President plans to do all this through an end-run around Congress only highlights his contempt for the wishes of the public and a system of government that was devised precisely to restrain an action like today’s.
“By imposing these draconian new rules on the nation’s coal industry, President Obama and every other liberal lawmaker in Washington who quietly supports them is also picking regional favorites, helping their political supporters in states like California and New York while inflicting acute pain on states like Kentucky. The impact on individuals and families and entire regions of the country will be catastrophic, as a proud domestic industry is decimated — and many of its jobs shipped overseas. Those who don’t lose jobs to foreign competitors will see higher utility costs and other living expenses at a moment they can least afford it. In short, the downstream effects of today’s announcement will be staggering for millions.
“Another tragedy in today’s announcement is that for all the pain this new rule will inflict on ordinary Americans, there is no clear benefit. These new rules will cheer the far-left patrons of Washington liberals, but there is simply no question that our competitors around the world will eagerly replace whatever industry we lose as a result of these new rules. The notion that these competitors will follow our lead is pure and utter fantasy.
“The sad truth is that the only thing America will lead in if these rules go into effect is the unilateral dismantling of our own economic supremacy and the self-imposed destruction of one of our nation’s main competitive advantages in the global economy. And that’s why I will offer legislation this week to stop this assault on Kentucky and the broader U.S. economy, because the President and his allies should not be allowed to get away with this. Congress must listen to the families who will be hardest hit by these rules — even if the President won’t.”