Bill to Stop EPA from Ensuring Clean Water Passes House

GOP says EPA Is "Strong-Arming" the States ... really?

Remember when we asked if Republicans wanted us drinking dirty water? Well, apparently a lot of them do. A few Democrats from coal-mining states do as well. Yesterday the House passed H.R. 2018, which would essentially relieve the Environmental Protection Agency of its federal duties to hold states accountable by enforcing the Clean Water Act, which protects our water supply. 

The bill was financed with a lot of dirty coal money -- coal extraction operations, whether mountaintop removal or mining, often leads to a lot of toxic material in the water. It's clear the fossil fuel business wants the feds out of their business. 

But the stated justification for passing this bill was odd. Rep. Nick Rahall, a Democrat from the coal industry-intense West Virginia, said after the vote: "The agency may claim that it is only following the law, and 'assisting' the states, but the reality is that the agency is strong-arming the states."

"Strong-arming"?