Congress scraps Obama rules on coal mining, guns

[OKIsItJustMe]

Source: Washington Post/Associated Press

Congress scraps Obama rules on coal mining, guns

By Kevin Freking and Matthew Daly | AP February 2 at 6:16 PM

WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled Congress on Thursday scrapped Obama-era rules on the environment and guns, counting on a new ally in the White House to help reverse years of what the GOP calls excessive regulation.

The Senate gave final approval to a measure eliminating a rule to prevent coal mining debris from being dumped into nearby streams, while the House backed a separate resolution doing away with extended background checks for gun purchases by some Social Security recipients with mental disabilities.

The Senate’s 54-45 vote sends the repeal of the stream protection rule to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it. The gun measure awaits Senate action.

Republicans and some Democrats say the coal-mining rule could eliminate thousands of coal-related jobs and ignores dozens of federal, state and local regulations already in place.

…

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/house-gop-aims-to-scrap-obama-rule-on-gun-background-checks/2017/02/02/2cb340aa-e977-11e6-903d-9b11ed7d8d2a_story.html

[Mr.Bill]

1. How did this happen without 60 votes? n/t

[rurallib]

3. yep - McConnell would have "filibustered" it if it were a dem bill

in the Obama days

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Only certain legislation requires 60 votes.

to simultaneously invoke cloture for any filibuster of it.

[sakabatou]

2. Pollution and guns for everybody!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Makes it easier for unemployable wannabe coal miners to shoot dead fish floating down streams. . nt

[riversedge]

5. Here we go again with these 4 Dems....

voting with Repugs many times.!


On the coal mining vote, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was the sole Republican to oppose the repeal measure, which was supported by four Democrats: Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Claire McCaskill of Missouri. All four face re-election next year in states Trump won.

[Mc Mike]

7. That will aid all the newly minted stick up artists in coal country,

coz the mining jobs aren't coming back.