Those concerned about ever-increasing electricity bills, as low-cost coal-fired power plants are shuttered or reduced in numbers, should be aware that confusion --- overlooked by most media --- exists in Washington on tough upcoming requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency as it moves to control carbon pollution, notes Grumpy Editor.
Associated Press writer Dina Cappiello, in a weekend story, pointed out, “the federal government’s own analysis of the new power plant proposal concludes that it would have a ‘negligible’ impact on carbon dioxide emissions, pose little to no costs for the industry and provide no additional benefits to the public by 2022.”
The EPA, Cappiello mentioned, “does not anticipate this rule will have any impacts on the price of electricity, employment or labor markets or the U.S. economy.”
However, Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.) declared the EPA was holding the coal industry to “impossible standards,” added Cappiello. “If these regulations go into effect, American jobs will be lost, electricity prices will soar and economic uncertainty will grow,” warned Manchin.
(Manchin, born in small coal mining town Farmington, W. Va., was governor of the state from 2005 to 2010.)
EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, reported the AP writer, said the proposed regulations, “rather than killing future coal, actually sets up a certain pathway forward for coal to continue to be part of the diverse mix in this country.”
Most Democrats flee latest Benghazi hearing
Ignored by most media was a shameful Capitol Hill happening involving some members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee who left the second portion of Thursday’s hearing on the Benghazi attack that resulted in the murders of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, observes Grumpy Editor.
But Katie Pavlich, writing on the Townhall.com website, noted, “The majority of Democrats on the committee left the room and refused to listen to the testimony of Patricia Smith and Charles Woods. Ms. Smith is the mother of Sean Smith, an information management officer killed in the 9/11 Benghazi attack. Charles Woods is the father of Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods, who was also killed.”
That resulted in most of the far side of the room, where Democrats sit, becoming empty.
Pavlich added the only Democrats who stayed were Elijah Cummings, ranking member from Maryland, and California Rep. Jackie Speier.
Seventeen Democrats are on the committee.
In case you missed these…
Marking the 17th anniversary of Fox News Channel, its prime time lineup starting Oct. 7 has Greta Van Susteren moving to 7 p.m. (Eastern), Bill O'Reilly remaining at 8, Megyn Kelly's "The Kelly File" at 9 and Sean Hannity shifting to 10…In other TV news: Final season of "Mad Men" on AMC actually is split over two years with seven episodes airing next spring and another seven in 2015. The saga of Madison Ave. advertising folks in the 1960s started in 2007…The 1960s lives again as CNN reached a deal with actor Tom Hanks and his film and TV production company, Playtone, to create a 10-part documentary on The Sixties.
In print action: The Kiplinger Letter, which calls itself the most widely read business forecasting periodical in the world, is marking its 90th year of weekly economic and political predictions. Spokesperson Jessica Weeg said the oldest continually published newsletter in the U.S. “pioneered a concise, telegraphic style that was widely emulated by other publications in the decades to follow”…Nancy Gibbs was named managing editor of Time magazine --- the first woman to lead the publication that first rolled off presses on March 3, 1923…Boosting coverage on its pages, the Indianapolis Star is aiming for more national and international news, plus expanding local coverage, through a partnership with USA Today. But it’s all in the family, since The Star and USA Today are owned by Gannett Co.
Double duty in U.S. government building: The Washington Examiner reported the roof of the Department of Labor headquarters building in Washington, D.C. was the scene Wednesday night of a same-sex marriage between a worker, described as a regional solicitor, and his long-time partner. No names were offered.
Labor Secretary Thomas Perez was not on the scene.
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