House GOP blocks Obama-era rules on cost of climate change

The House GOP on Friday took a step forward in reining in the Obama administration's method of assessing the cost of carbon dioxide pollution when developing regulations. The House voted 212-201, along party lines, to include a rider blocking the use of the climate change cost metric to an energy and water spending bill. The amendment offered by Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert bars any and all funds from being used under the bill to "prepare, propose, or promulgate any regulation that relies on the Social Carbon analysis" devised under the Obama administration on how to value the cost of carbon. The rider was added to the spending bill less than 24 hours after Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt proposed new rules to dial back the use of the carbon cost metric in EPA regulations...MORE