SCOTUS EKES OUT GOODNESS

Supreme Court Halts Obama’s Aggressive Climate Agenda

In a major setback to the Obama administration’s climate agenda, the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote blocked the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan from taking effect until the legal challenges from states and industry groups fully play out. Twenty-five states, four state agencies and dozens of industry groups challenged the Clean Power Plan, which would require aggressive carbon dioxide cuts from America’s existing power plants. The Supreme Court’s decision reverses a lower court’s decision two weeks ago not to stay the regulation. The decision is important for states refusing to submit state implementation plans and opposing the Clean Power Plan. If states had to submit plans to meet their respective carbon cut targets, the rule could have taken effect prior to a final court decision. Without the Supreme Court blocking the regulation, the wheels could have already been set in motion to close many of the existing fleet of power plants with little to no hope of re-opening no matter how the legal battle played out. More… Another 5-4 decision. Which gets us to thinking.  Suppose a SCOTUS lefty dies tomorrow?  Will the GOP have the balls to keep any Obama nomination off the floor until he's gone?