GOP-led Congress moves to block Obama’s Clean Power Plan

WASHINGTON (AP) – Congressional Republicans are moving to block President Barack Obama’s plan to force steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Rep. Ed Whitfield say they will file resolutions this week opposing Obama’s plan to impose new regulations on new and existing coal-fired plants.
The two Kentucky Republicans expect to be joined by lawmakers from both parties in challenges filed under the little-used Congressional Review Act. The law allows Congress to block executive actions with simply majority votes.

The maneuver is subject to a presidential veto and has rarely been successful in overturning executive branch rules. Still, it allows opponents to set up votes calculated to embarrass the Obama administration ahead of international climate talks in Paris this fall.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.