12 states sue Biden administration over climate policies, ‘massive expansion’ of regulations

By Thomas Catenacci

A group of Republican state attorneys general alleged in a federal lawsuit filed Monday that President Joe Biden’s climate policies are a major overreach and could damage their states’ economies.

The 12-state coalition said Biden overstepped his constitutional authority by declaring there were “social costs” of continued greenhouse gas emissions in a Jan. 20 executive order. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District Court of Missouri, argued that assigning such costs is a “quintessentially legislative action” that falls within Congress’ authority.

“The Biden Administration’s calculation of ‘social costs’ would justify imposing trillions of dollars in regulatory costs on the American economy every year to offset these supposed costs,” the lawsuit said.

Biden’s executive action determined that there was a “social cost” of continued carbon, nitrous oxide and methane emissions. “Social cost” refers to the estimated dollar value incurred by the U.S. for every additional metric ton of carbon emitted into the environment, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The lawsuit said Biden’s executive order enables regulatory agencies to place restrictions on nearly every aspect of Americans’ lives in order to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. Potential regulations could affect cars, refrigerators, homes, food purchases and electric bills.

“Manufacturing, agriculture, and energy production are essential to Missouri’s economy and employ thousands of hard-working Missourians across the state,” Missouri Attorney General Schmitt, who led the coalition, said in a statement Monday.

“Under President Biden’s executive order, which he didn’t have the authority to enact, these hard-working Missourians who have lived and worked this land for generations could be left in the dust,” he continued.

In addition to the order being an overstep of Biden’s authority, Monday’s lawsuit argued it would lead to severe economic devastation. Biden’s order targets reliable and affordable energy production that lifts millions out of poverty, creates jobs, enables innovation and promotes U.S. energy independence, the lawsuit said.

“It will destroy jobs, stifle energy production, strangle America’s energy independence, suppress agriculture, deter innovation, and impoverish working families,” the lawsuit stated. “It undermines the sovereignty of the States and tears at the fabric of liberty.”

The states of Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah joined Missouri as plaintiffs. Biden, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack were all listed among the defendants in the lawsuit.

“From higher energy bills to lost jobs, this massive expansion of federal regulatory power has the potential to impact nearly every household in this state – that’s why today I’m leading a coalition of states to put a stop to this executive order and protect Missouri families,” Schmitt said.

Biden ordered a working group to provide him a list of recommended policies and regulations that he could pursue to reduce the use of such greenhouse gas emissions by Sept. 1, 2021. The working group released its initial report on Feb. 26.

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5 thoughts on “12 states sue Biden administration over climate policies, ‘massive expansion’ of regulations

  1. Willem, the big story of the Biden administration’s performance to date is the F it has earned.

    On the other hand, a story as significant as Biden’s poor performance is the main stream media’s absence of covering the wreckage his administration is piling up in so many areas. The MSM is so invested in Biden that it is simply incapable of honestly reporting or opining about his performance, so we hear crickets.

    The health of our Democracy and American people are owed an honest media, but instead are getting nothing when it comes to President Biden’s ineptitude…….A worrisome situation.

    • Biden is doing NOTHING! He just signs whatever is placed on his desk, written by the “handlers of his W. H. Handlers” – the invisible forces who got him elected. He can barely read the prompter.

      Biden is incapable of any open press conference, even if the Questions have to be submitted in advance. He doesn’t remember what the Pentagon is called!! The second half of a sentence evades his recollection. Presume we will see less and less of him!

      Which millions of matching idiots, which ballot factory, got him elected? Hidden for now!!

      I now see I agree with every other comment!! And we thought Carter was helpless.

  2. My opinion is that the democratic party leaders picked Biden for the recipient of their election theft for two main reasons. They know he is incapable of handling the job of President. They know his mental capacity allows them to slip anything in front of him and he’ll sign it. Mostly because he can’t handle the rigors of the job and he doesn’t have the where with all to question anything. In other words, he’s being played for his mental deficiency and his wife the DR. is allowing this abuse to happen. I knew Joe Biden was a criminal, hack 30 years ago watching him in action.

    The second reason is Kamala Harris was added to the cheat team for a similar reason. She has a history of political opportunism. I doubt that she signed on to be the greatest president in history and may not even be constitutionally qualified for the position. She was one of the first to drop out of the race in 2016 because no one like her or her history an an AG in California. Anyway, she will do what she’s told and and will be Nancy’s useful idiot behind the curtain. She’s the perfect candidate as soon as they figure out how to get Joe out. It’s not only politics, it’s dirty politics. Buyer beware!

    • Palace intrigue occurs against a backdrop of Mao inspired Marxist takeover and Naziesque tyranny.

      Fifteen-foot fencing, barbed-wire and Concertina says it all. Baghdad Green-Zone, Berlin or Lebanon – pick one. Fair to say a sign they’re aware they do not have the consent of the governed. A 700-lb gorilla in DC a bad look.As can be seen from this story alone will need SCOTUS to head off complete takeover if even possible. When are we gonna see a 50-state challenge.

      As we conduct our lives and deal with continual nation-destroying EOs we are in fact under the occupation of the diabolical DemocratMarxist Party, vast array of apparatchicks and commissars Granite Grok nails it again:
      Democrats Reveal Why They Incited the Capitol Riot…
      by Steve MacDonald / 9 March 2021
      “When you steal something precious or special, you need to protect it. The people from whom you took it might want it back.

      Democrats stole America, which is why they are proposing a permanent military presence in the US Capitol. Saddam, Adolf, Mao, Hugo, and Stalin would be so proud.”
      https://granitegrok.com/blog/2021/03/democrats-reveal-why-they-incited-the-capitol-riot

      Using Dementia JoeBama to keep the old-school Dems in the fold then installing reliabally dyed-in-wool communist Kamala. As unlikable as Killary – least popular of hopefuls with the persona of a bar-fly and could never be elected – did an end run around electorate to shoehorn a third term for Hussein.

      This will not end well.

  3. John K,

    I do not understand Biden this, Biden that.

    Biden is not doing anything!!!
    He could not even orchestrate a Sunday school picnic.
    Abstract thinking?
    All is chewed to little bits for him, so he can digest it

    He is an in-the-basement/behind-the-desk person, with one photo-op after another.
    His anonymous handlers are keeping him there.
    His anonymous handlers are deciding EVERYTHING.

    Why is Biden not going to the southern border to observe the chaos his anonymous handlers have created.

    Several hundred thousand will be on their way to the border this year, to start sucking on government programs, run by Dem/Prog operatives.

    The undocumented illegals are not stupid.
    They are transported by financed handlers to cross at the places with no border wall, en masse.

    Now we are all finding out ELECTIONS MATTER BIG-TIME, even fraudulent ones.

    The Dem/Progs are going wild in Washington,

    Their shenanigans are adversely affecting all states in all matters; energy, healthcare, education, immigration, etc.

    Their laundry list is a mile long, financed with $trillions of federal COVID money

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