UPDATE: EPA Attacks Fail in Senate, Succeed in House

Over the past two days, a series of votes were taken in both the US House and Senate that would have gutted the EPA's ability to protect public health from air pollution. Those efforts, fortunately, all fell short in the Senate, though not in the House. Below are the votes for our Michigan senators and the description of each amendment.

Please also check out the joint statement on these votes by League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski and Michigan LCV Executive Director Lisa Wozniak.

Here are the results from Michigan's senators on the four amendments to block or delay the EPA from protecting public health (60 votes were required for passage). 

Amendment descriptions:

The Baucus amendment introduced by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, would have exempted agriculture and smaller greenhouse gas emitters from the EPA’s permitting process.

The Stabenow amendment introduced by Michigan’s own Sen. Debbie Stabenow, would have delayed EPA regulations for two years, exempted agriculture and provided a tax credit to clean energy technology manufacturers.

The Rockefeller amendment introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D- West Virginia, would have delayed EPA regulations for two years as well.

The McConnell amendment, an effort to permanently ban the EPA from protecting public health in regard to air pollution, was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R- Kentucky, but was struck down in a 50- 50 vote.  

In the House:

In the other chamber of Congress, however, the results were not as positive. The House passed the bill sponsored by Michigan Representative Fred Upton that rejects the scientific rationale for protecting public health through the EPA's authority. The votes on all the House members on the Upton bill are here.