Rockefeller YES for Murkowski

Late yesterday Sen. Rockefeller announced that he will vote in favor of the Murkowski Resolution. Until then, we were uncertain in which way he would vote.  However in a prepared statement Rockefeller said:

I have long maintained that the Congress – not the unelected EPA – must decide major economic and energy policy. EPA regulation will have an enormous impact on the economic security of West Virginia and our energy future.

I intend to vote for Senator Murkowski’s Resolution of Disapproval because I believe we must send a strong message that the fate of West Virginia’s economy, our manufacturing industries, and our workers should not be solely in the hands of EPA.

As a major coal producing state, the EPA’s massive energy regulation schemes would have a tremendously adverse affect on the region’s economy – forcing production and electricity prices through the roof and sending jobs overseas.  We applaud Rockefeller for standing up for West Virginians.

While Rockefeller has announced he plans on voting yes, we are still waiting to hear from Sen. Byrd also of WV. It is reported that he wants to hear the debate in the Senate before making any decisions.

Sen. Murkowski is roughly 2-5 votes short on having this bill passed and I would not be surprised if it came down to the wire.