Ag Policy Blog

Confederate Flag Debate Stalls EPA Budget Bill

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Staff Reporter
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A bill that would make significant cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency budget was grounded Thursday, after Republican members objected to an amendment passed by voice vote Tuesday night to ban the Confederate flag at national cemeteries, according to The Hill, http://tinyurl.com/…

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy told reporters during a press call earlier this week that the bill that includes policy riders designed to cut the agency's budget by about 14% would hamper EPA's ability to conduct its "core mission."

The cuts, by and large, are proposed in response to what Republicans see as regulatory overreach on a number of agency rules, including the waters of the United States rule that now faces multiple legal challenges.

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"These reductions would delay implementation of the clean water rule," McCarthy told reporters. "It would create more costly permitting delays. Congress is trying to legitimately legislate science."

One of the ways opponents of the waters of the United States rule are attempting to stop implementation of the rule is to deny funding to EPA.

McCarthy said the cuts would be "extreme" and would cut at the heart of the EPA mission.

"By attacking the agency the current bill goes way beyond the agency's ability to finalize rules," she said. "We strenuously object."

EPA already has experienced spending cuts that have required the agency to make cutbacks in employees and other services.

Within in the proposed bill that calls for EPA cuts would be a 40% reduction in the land and water conservation fund.

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Paul Beiser
7/23/2015 | 5:26 PM CDT
I'd rather fly an historical battle flag than a communist flag that stands for oppression and murder.... on another note, the EPA is a bloated inefficient burocracy that needs much fat trimmed from its budget.
CRAIG MOORE
7/17/2015 | 4:27 PM CDT
The Confederate flag stands as much for state rights as it does for slavery and the states should determine where, when or if it flies. And if we are going to throw part of that past in the dust bin and forget about it, let's through all the history of that time away. No more talk of slavery or reparations for anyone because of the past. It is done and gone, times have changed so let's move on, totally.
Jay Mcginnis
7/14/2015 | 6:57 AM CDT
In short, the party of dirty air/dirty water and science denial is too busy defending the flag of treason to make serious legislation!