Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today said his FY2014 Interior and the Environment Appropriations bill will be part of the battleground over President Obama’s intention to issue new rules, regulations, and executive orders on greenhouse gas emissions.  Simpson is the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment which funds the Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

“President Obama has once again demonstrated to the American people that he has little regard for the legislative process or concern for the economic impact of his regulatory appetite,” said Congressman Simpson. “For that reason, and because I believe Congress is the appropriate place to debate new greenhouse gas regulations, I intend to address this issue in the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. Whether through provisions in the underlying bill or through amendments, I expect that when my bill reaches the House floor we’ll have a robust debate on the President’s contempt for the congressional processes envisioned by our Founders and on the overreach of his upcoming actions on greenhouse gases. I am very much looking forward to that debate.”

Simpson’s statement comes on the heels of President Obama’s announcement this week that he will act unilaterally to curtail greenhouse gas emissions from our nation’s energy production facilities. Simpson said that not only do the President’s actions circumvent the appropriate role of Congress, they drive up costs for virtually everything by targeting a huge portion of our nation’s energy production.

“I am confident that our entire conference understands both the danger of allowing the President to circumvent Congress and the devastating consequences to our economy and job creation if these new rules and regulations are approved,” said Simpson. “That is why I believe we’ll address this issue in my bill and on other legislative vehicles in the coming days, weeks, and months.”