Merkley reacts to Trump’s ‘pro-pollution plan’

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after the Trump administration issued a new plan to allow more carbon pollution:

“Today, the Trump agenda to turn the Environmental Protection Agency into the Polluter Protection Agency is complete. This pro-pollution plan is a threat to public health and will produce more catastrophic wildfires, more devastating droughts, and more climate chaos that will wreak havoc on lives, businesses and jobs.

“The Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan would have reduced harmful carbon pollution by over 30% by 2030, as well as devastating toxins like mercury. The Trump Pro-Pollution Plan would offer incentives for coal plants to keep operating and avoid modern pollution standards, releasing more pollution, soot, and toxins into the air our children breathe.

“Today’s announcement is just further proof that fossil fuel special interests have hijacked our democracy, and We the People are paying the price.”