Chamber of Commerce Files Suit Against EPA Greenhouse Regulation

Lawyers representing the United States Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit in federal courts challenging a ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency that would allow them to collect fees from businesses for their greenhouse gas emissions. The Chamber of Commerce stated that it will not be challenging the science behind greenhouse gas regulation, but rather the process the EPA went through to procure these powers and the legitimacy of the EPA having direct economic control. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce say that EPA regulation violates specific constitutional clauses that prevents the executive branch from having the power to directly affect the economy via taxes, a right only Congress has.

Representatives from the EPA told The Wall Street Journal that regulation would be "within reason," and promised that only the worst emitters would face fines in the first 5 years of the program. The Chamber of Commerce disagrees, saying that a wave of regulations and addendum at federal, state, and local levels will put a heavy burden on American businesses.

It has been speculated that the endangerment finding was put in place to encourage action on the climate bill now stalled in Congress. Virtually guaranteed to remain in legislative limbo until after mid-term elections, the EPA plans to move forward with the endangerment finding regardless. The Chamber of Commerce has voiced support for a bi-partisan energy bill that rewards innovation and efficiency, but is opposed to the cap-and-trade program contained in the current bill. The preliminary hearing has not yet been established for the Chamber of Commerce lawsuit.