The Senate has rejected a Republican bill to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its power to use the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon emissions and greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation was sponsored by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Six Democrats voted with the Republicans: Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Evan Bayh of Indiana, and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders joined with the majority of Democrats in opposing the legislation.

Sen. Bernie Sanders: “This resolution, really, is not about whether EPA or Congress should regulate greenhouse gas emissions. What this resolution is about is whether we go forward in public policy based on science or based on politics. That’s really what this resolution is about.”