"Senator Murkowski Aims To Stop EPA Carbon Controls"

"U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a leading Republican on energy policy, on Thursday moved to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions that are blamed for global warming.

The Alaska lawmaker, in a speech on the Senate floor, said she so far had the firm support of 35 fellow Republicans and three Democrats for legislation that could move through the Senate in an expedited process. ...

"Congress must be given time to develop an appropriate and more responsible solution" than EPA to climate change problems, Murkowski said. She warned that looming EPA regulation would lead to job losses and broader economic problems. ...

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer called Murkowski's EPA legislation an unprecedented "assault," adding, "We cannot and must not repeal a scientific health finding."...

Murkowski faces an uphill fight in the Democratic-controlled Congress. Even if she were to convince enough Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives to join her, the legislation would face a veto by Democratic President Barack Obama, Energy Secretary Steven Chu told reporters."

Richard Cowan reports for Reuters January 22, 2010.