Texas Task Force to Battle EPA Regulations

by Becca Aaronson
March 21, 2011
12 Comments

Texas is summoning all of its political firepower to do battle against the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Federal and state lawmakers announced the creation of a Texas task force to slow the agency's effort to tighten restrictions on Texas manufacturers. Twenty-three Republicans in the U.S. House and two senators plan to work on the issue with the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house and various committee chairmen.

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, says the task force has two goals: to stop the EPA from discontinuing Texas’ flexible permitting program, which reviews the overall emissions by a ...

Full Story

Comment Policy

The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your user name will be displayed. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Sign-Up

Comments (12)

March 21, 2011 @ 9:38 p.m.

Sonora Hartley via Texas Tribune on Facebook

That's what I've been waiting to hear! For a couple of days I was afraid Texas might actually comply and act like we give a flying flip about the quality of our air or at least something than our pockets. I don't mind telling you I was starting to worry that Rick and company had dropped dead from acute asthma.
- + Reply
March 21, 2011 @ 9:44 p.m.

Jordan Stewart via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Finally, something that will reduce the state's gigantic budget defici...wait...
- + Reply
March 21, 2011 @ 9:45 p.m.

Cynthia Casper Robertson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Pure unmitigated hogwash. Guess we better all hope that the State of Texas decides not to cut spending for healthcare because if this passes muster, we're all going to need medical treatment from sucking up tainted water and polluted air.
- + Reply
March 21, 2011 @ 10:04 p.m.

Stephen Pollard via Texas Tribune on Facebook

That's right Perry and cronies, keep grandstanding with the federal government just to draw attention to yourselves as you run for president of the US or the bat*&^! crazy club. I can't remember which.
- + Reply
March 21, 2011 @ 10:06 p.m.

David F Parmenter via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Seems to me that everyone should want clean air and water. I think most polls show that to be true across the political spectrum. They are shooting themselves in their cowboy boots.
- + Reply
March 22, 2011 @ 12:27 a.m.

Tracey Schulz via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Sad. A drawn-out argument for the sake of it.
- + Reply
March 22, 2011 @ 12:58 a.m.

Brian Dunn via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Texas > Federal Idiocracy. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/implementation/air/airsuccess/airsuccess
http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/cleanest-cities.html
California: An EPA success story! http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html
- + Reply
March 22, 2011 @ 9:02 a.m.

Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook

NOOOOOOOO!
- + Reply
March 22, 2011 @ 9:03 a.m.

Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Task force formations remind me of committees, too much time, and lobbies. That's why the"no". Help!
- + Reply
March 22, 2011 @ 3:13 p.m.

Dave Pernell via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Clowns. What grandstanding.
- + Reply
March 22, 2011 @ 5:08 p.m.

Lonnie Goins via Texas Tribune on Facebook

stewardship of our natural resources, not your pocketbook.
- + Reply
April 19, 2011 @ 5:20 p.m.

Robert Durrenberger

Texas legislators plan to keep on fiddlin around while our air quality continues to deteriorate. With the budgetary and social problems this state faces, why not go to work on actually improving life for the citizens of this state. What a waste!