GOP: Environmental rules are job killers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Republican lawmakers took another swipe at President Barack Obama's environmental regulations by blaming coal mining rules for dimming employment prospects.

Regulations for the coal industry are designed to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in 27 states. Those pollutants account for high levels of smog and soot.

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., chairman of a House subcommittee on energy and mineral resources, said Obama's clean air regulation was a job killer.

"Continuing to work on a rule that will knowingly eliminate thousands of jobs and will result in 29,000 people living below the poverty level is inexcusable policy," Lamborn said in a statement.

"It is our job as lawmakers to institute policies that will create jobs and make lives better for Americans -- instead, this administration is pursuing a rule that will do exactly the opposite."

The Environmental Protection Agency announced recently it wanted to limit sulfur levels in gasoline in an effort to decrease pollutants associated with acid raid.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said last week the EPA "is one of the biggest job-destroying offenders" in Washington.

"I believe regulations are necessary to protect public health and the environment but they must be administered in a way that does not inflict undue harm on American families and job creators," Upton said.