Move by EPA spoils holiday for Congress

WASHINGTON — As members of Congress fled the Capitol this week for the holidays, congratulating themselves on their landmark energy bill, they got an unwelcome Christmas present from the president.

The Environmental Protection Agency unexpectedly announced it will not honor tough fuel-emission standards set by California and 11 other states, including Washington. This sets up a major confrontation between Congress and the White House next year.

The move that most outraged Democrats was the way the administration dropped its bombshell, waiting till nearly 6 p.m.

"They waited just so there would be no way to block them," said Rep. Norm Dicks, who runs the House Appropriations Committee that funds the EPA.

"We were sandbagged," said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island.

The EPA's delay meant that a most controversial maneuver would miss the East Coast news cycle.

Furthermore, it came just hours after the new energy bill had been signed by the president at a bipartisan reception. And shortly after Congress had passed the omnibus spending bill that includes the EPA's budget, and dispersed.

Dicks, D-Bremerton, said that if members of the House and Senate appropriations panels had known what the EPA planned, they would likely have added a rider — a condition — to the EPA funding bill to force the agency to allow the 12 states to set their own emission standards.

"There are plenty of Republicans who are as upset as us," Dicks said.

EPA officials said the energy bill's fuel-efficiency standards make the states' tailpipe-emissions rules redundant.

But Inslee said Democrats compromised with Republicans and the car industry's lobbyists on a lower fuel-efficiency standard, without knowing the EPA was going to use that as an excuse to step in.

"The EPA was writing up their press release while Democratic leaders were shaking the president's hand" for signing the new energy legislation, Inslee said.

The EPA's timing did appear carefully calculated.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chair of the House Oversight Committee who has forced many hearings of government agencies the past year, vowed to immediately begin an investigation.

Inslee said the Energy and Commerce Committee on which he serves also wants hearings, as do three more committees.

Waxman may be a pit bull, Inslee said, but as angry as his committee members are, "We won't concede that our dentures are less-sharp than Henry's."

For the media, this may be the Christmas gift that keeps on giving.

Letter From Washington is an examination of the culture of politics and power in the nation's capital. Alicia Mundy can be reached at 202-622-7457 or at amundy@seattletimes.com.