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E&E News
a day ago
- Business
- E&E News
House panel sets vote on energy, permitting bills
A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will vote this week on legislation to address long-held Republican concerns around electric reliability. Lawmakers discussed the 13 bills during a hearing in April. They focus heavily on easing permitting for fossil fuel and nuclear infrastructure. 'Over the past several months, our Committee has heard from energy producers, grid operators, and experts on [artificial intelligence] that have discussed the need to produce more baseload power,' said E&C Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Energy Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-Ohio) about the bills. '[These] specific policy proposals would help achieve this goal and ensure American energy dominance.' Advertisement Republicans believe baseload energy sources — unlike wind and solar — can better allow the U.S. to meet power demand. But Democrats expressed opposition to almost all the bills during April's hearing, wanting more attention for renewables.
The Hill
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
House sends resolution giving polluters more leeway to Trump's desk
The House early Thursday morning voted to eliminate a Biden-era rule that sought to crack down on toxic air pollution, sending the resolution to President Trump's desk. The vote was 216-212, and Trump is expected to sign the measure. The vote took place overnight, as the House debated the GOP's megabill of Trump's priorities. The Biden-era policy required polluters that had once been considered 'major' emitters of seven types of pollution to continue to follow strict pollution control and reporting requirements. It was a partial reversal of a 2020 policy that allowed polluters that had reduced their emissions below certain thresholds to follow less stringent mandates, even if they still had the ability to emit more. The polluters in question emit one of seven types of pollution including mercury, lead, PCBs and dioxins, which have health impacts including brain damage, cancer and reproductive and immune system issues. Democrats and environmental activists say the standard will help to reduce Americans' exposure to these dangerous substances. 'The rule Republicans are trying to repeal today is first and foremost a public health protection measure. It requires facilities that emit the worst of the worst hazardous air pollutants to monitor, report, and cut those emissions to the maximum degree of reduction achievable—even eliminating them entirely if possible,' said Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) in floor remarks on Wednesday. 'Republicans are going to allow large facilities to increase their toxic emissions up to just below the legal limit, endangering the health of American communities,' added Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. However, Republicans and industry have argued that the Biden-era policy gives companies less incentive to reduce their toxic emissions. 'The Biden administration's reinstatement of the 'Once In, Always In' rule is a bureaucratic mandate that punishes energy producers, manufacturers, and businesses for reducing emissions. It permanently classifies facilities as 'major sources' of hazardous air pollutants—even when they've made significant investments to cut emissions below federal thresholds. That makes no sense,' Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.) said in a statement after the Senate passed the same resolution earlier this month. 'Businesses that invest in cleaner technologies should be rewarded, not locked into outdated, costly regulations that remove any real incentive to improve,' Fedorchak added.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Freshman Rep. Gabe Evans still wears his police boots in Congress
WASHINGTON - Does Gabe Evans regret scoring a spot on the coveted House Energy and Commerce panel, now that it has seen roiling debates over Medicaid? "No, absolutely not," said the Colorado Republican, who was a cop, a Blackhawk pilot and a state legislator before coming to Congress this year. That helps him take on thorny problems, he said. But issues like those may not be easy to navigate in his freshman term, after he narrowly flipped his seat. About 1 in 4 people rely on Medicaid in his district, which extends north from the suburbs of Denver, and he'll have to ward off Democratic attacks as one of the House's most vulnerable members. Evans sat down with Roll Call earlier this month, a few days before a marathon markup session where he joined fellow Energy and Commerce Republicans in advancing their portion of the party's budget reconciliation package. He talked about his "boots on the ground" experience in law enforcement and the military - and he's literally still got the boots, which he wears every day. "These are actually my cop boots. This particular pair is on their third set of soles, and I still wear them because it reminds me why I'm here. From me being a baby patrol officer out doing the job to being in the halls of Congress, that part of my routine hasn't changed," Evans said. This interview has been edited and condensed. Q: How are you settling into Congress, and what's the weirdest thing you've experienced so far? A: I spent most of my career as a cop being on body camera, knowing that everything that I did was going to be audio or visual recorded, and if not by me, by somebody with a cellphone, with somebody's security system. So I'm totally used to living under that. But it's just really unique to wake up in the morning and check the headlines and be like, "Oh, look, there's me, and there's me again, and oh, I was at that meeting." One of the things I was most proud of during my 10 years as a cop is that I only ever got into two fights. I arrested the bad guys, but I was just really, really good at being able to talk them into handcuffs rather than fight them into handcuffs. And so I'm able to translate that skill set to politics, to build rapport and try to understand where people are at. Q: You're one of the few freshmen in recent years to land on the Energy and Commerce panel. Do you regret getting on it now, with the hornet's nest of reconciliation and finding Medicaid cuts? A: First and foremost, we're not cutting Medicaid. It is removing the fraud, waste and abuse from Medicaid so resources are being used efficiently and effectively, so that we actually have better access to care. And no, absolutely not. I mean, being able to serve the community in difficult ways and being able to come up with creative solutions, that's what I did as a cop. That's what I did as a soldier, not only overseas, but in Colorado, fighting wildfires and doing search and rescues. That's why I enjoyed those jobs, because policy and procedure and SOPs only go so far, and at a certain point, you have to come up with unorthodox solutions that have the ultimate goal of making everybody's life better. Q: What if it goes beyond what you just described? Will you oppose the final reconciliation package if it cuts Medicaid? A: I am confident we're going to be able to do everything that we need to do and accomplish what the president said, which is protect Medicaid for lawful beneficiaries. Q: You were homeschooled growing up. What was that like? A: I was homeschooled all 12 years. My wife was homeschooled all 12 years. My kids have been public schooled, charter schooled and homeschooled, so they've done a little bit of everything. Right now we're in the homeschool phase, so we have the geographic flexibility to go back and forth between the district and D.C. Everybody always asks, "Oh, were you socialized enough?" And the answer for me is yes. I was absolutely socialized enough. As a police sergeant, after we'd have a big call or a hostage situation, we would do an after action review. Interpersonal skill is critically important when you're negotiating with whoever's barricaded or talking to somebody in danger. I would go around the circle of cops in some dark parking lot at 1 in the morning, and I would make a joke and say, "I'm so proud of the homeschooler in our midst. You did such a great job talking to people." We'd all look around like, who's the homeschooler? Oh, it's me. Did any of y'all know that? It was my self-deprecating way to just break the stereotype a little bit. Q: You're the grandson of Mexican immigrants. More than a third of your district is Hispanic, and you sit on the House Homeland Security Committee. Are you concerned that the Trump administration's approach to deportations could backfire on Republicans? A: [My grandfather immigrated to the U.S.] from northern Mexico, from Chihuahua. I joined the Army in the global war on terror after we lost 2,996 lives on Sept. 11, 2001. But in 2023, fentanyl killed that same number every 15 days. We know that it comes across the southern border, and it's trafficked by cartels like the Sinaloa cartel, like the Jalisco cartel, which are now designated foreign terrorist organizations, and we've seen the impact of that in my district. We've seen just tremendous strides in solving that public safety crisis in the last couple of months. Q: But what about people being deported without due process or without clear ties to gangs? A: Whenever we go out into the community, I ask people, "Have you heard of anybody that's been deported, and do you think there's problems associated with how that process occurred?" We have not yet identified one case in Colorado where somebody was deported in a manner that brought concern. Once we actually talked about the issue, people would say, "Oh yeah, so and so was deported, but we all knew they were dealing drugs. Now that you mention it, they were involved with some bad stuff." And so I am confident that at least in my area, it's Tren de Aragua. It's MS-13. These are criminals, and quite honestly, the Hispanic community does not want that in their neighborhoods. I introduced a bill that's passed out of Homeland Security, a bipartisan bill talking about transnational repression, which is when foreign governments try to use their influence on American soil to suppress dissidents. We saw that with the underground Chinese police station in New York. We're also seeing it with the Venezuelan community, where the Maduro government is trying to use and leverage Tren de Aragua. And so being able to bring the hammer down on these drug dealers, these criminals, these foreign gangs, it's actually pretty popular with the Hispanics in my district. Quick hits Last book you read? The only book I really have time to read at this point is the Bible. And I am rereading "The Art of the Deal." In politics, can the ends justify the means? I think you have to be ethical. But ethical doesn't mean you can't be a tough negotiator. Your least popular opinion? I take my coffee black because I don't want to have to worry about the calories that come with better taste. Best part of the job? I love learning, going back to the homeschooler thing, whether we're talking about geothermal or beef processing or solar panels or how you do quality assurance testing on concrete for a new road that's been laid. Something your friends know about you that your constituents don't? I am a die-hard "Lord of the Rings" nerd. And by "Lord of the Rings" nerd, I mean the broader Tolkien universe. I do not mean Peter Jackson's movies. My wife is very concerned that my kids think "Lord of the Rings" mythology is actual, real history. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Michigan advocates, politicos slam James' vote to approve proposed Medicaid cuts
U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.) speaks at an Oct. 2 campaign event with Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance in Auburn Hills. | Kyle Davidson Michigan advocates say those most in need will feel the adverse effects of GOP cuts to Medicaid following a congressional this week vote to pass legislation that would slash hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending. Both U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) and U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which passed the bill Wednesday. Dingell voted no, while James voted yes. 'I especially worry about how senior Michiganders will fare under the legislation Congressman James voted for this week,' said Dr. Christine Crader, a palliative medicine physician from St. Clair Shores, which is in James' district. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Crader was among physicians from across the country, including from Colorado, Iowa, and New Jersey, who spoke during a virtual press event Thursday to criticize their representatives for voting for the bill in committee and urge them to cease any further support for the legislation. The event was sponsored by the Committee to Protect Health Care, a PAC that supports an expanded health care system. Crader says the legislation won't just result in depriving Medicaid recipients of health care coverage, it will also raise health care costs for many people, including seniors. 'Many poor, older and disabled people are enrolled in Medicare but use Medicaid to cover copayments they cannot afford. So if their Medicaid is taken away, as it could be under the legislation Congressman James voted for, these seniors and disabled people might not be able to pay their co-payments or other costs,' Crader said. Michigan Democratic Party Curtis Hertel was less restrained in his criticism, calling James 'a disgrace' to the state and the millions of Michiganders that rely on Medicaid. 'The worst part is, all of these cuts that rip away health care from people who need it, is all to give the richest 1% yet another tax break,' Hertel said. A request was sent by Michigan Advance to James' office, but has yet to be returned. However, James, who is a Republican candidate for governor in 2026, has said in the past that Republicans are working to protect Medicaid from insolvency to 'ensure those who've rightfully paid into their benefits & our most vulnerable can access these essential programs.' An analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicates that the proposed Medicaid changes would cut $625 billion in federal spending over the next decade, resulting in approximately 10.3 million people losing access to either Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program. Additionally, 7.6 million people would become uninsured during the 10-year budget window. Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton said the cuts being made to Medicaid spending as well as to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are part of an overall tax plan that would increase deficits by $3.8 trillion over 10 years, 'To put life-saving programs like Medicaid and SNAP on the chopping block in order to create tax cuts that mainly benefit the wealthy is egregious,' Stanton said. 'Everything that we know is critical to Michigan's growth — bringing down maternal mortality rates, making sure older folks can afford their prescriptions, making sure kids and families have the nutrition they need — that's all at stake now. And for what? To make sure more wealthy people get a tax cut,' Stanton said. Also criticizing the proposed cuts to the Medicaid program is Danielle Atkinson, executive director and founder of Mothering Justice, a Michigan-based policy organization. 'These proposed funding cuts Republicans are trying to push through would devastate working-class families and mamas of color in Michigan. This is a class war being declared on some of our most vulnerable populations by out-of-touch politicians who won't be impacted by this political malpractice. I call on the Michigan congressional delegation to vote against these cuts, and to step up and protect low-income families and communities of color,' Atkinson told the Advance. A major piece of the Republican-sponsored legislation is the implementation of work requirements for those on Medicaid, which the CBO estimates would save more than $300 billion over the next ten years. Democrats have countered that the vast majority of recipients work full or part-time, and the savings will be realized through red tape that will cut off benefits to those who otherwise qualify. Crader says she has seen that first-hand among her patients. 'We had challenges in Michigan when people had to reconfirm and go through all of the paperwork to qualify again for Medicaid and I had at least two patients in my clinic who for a period of time were without insurance and were worried that they were not going to be able to see me as a physician, that they were not going to be able to pay for pain medications that they were taking for Stage 4 cancer,' Crader said. She also said while the political battle plays out in Washington D.C., many of her patients don't yet grasp the changes the proposed legislation will bring. 'I don't feel that my patient population really understands the impact of these Medicaid cuts. I'm not sure they believe it will actually happen because all of them wonder how could humans do this to other humans,' Crader said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
MassHealth warns of big coverage, funding losses
BOSTON (SHNS) – A key piece of a federal spending cut and tax relief plan that's on the move in Washington could result in Massachusetts losing more than $1 billion annually and hundreds of thousands of Bay Staters losing health coverage, according to the Healey administration. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced its share of a legislative package featuring hundreds of billions of dollars in spending cuts, mostly to Medicaid, as well as significant reforms to policy areas such as artificial intelligence and climate investments. A MassHealth official who provided information on background said Wednesday that a high-level assessment of the proposal found it could cut federal dollars to Massachusetts by more than $1 billion annually. It could also take health care coverage away from 'hundreds of thousands' of Massachusetts residents, according to the official. That estimate assesses only the portion of the plan that was before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. The figures do not take into account other proposals that advanced through different panels and could become part of a larger bill. Most cuts would hit in federal fiscal year 2027, though some others could take effect sooner depending on how quickly federal agencies promulgate rules, according to MassHealth. Stressing that there's still uncertainty over how to interpret some of the language, the Healey administration said two provisions in the Energy and Commerce Committee bill might have more immediate impacts. One would lower the limit on allowable state directed payments, which are state requirements for managed care organizations to pay providers specific rates or to implement rate increases. MassHealth said if the bill blocks renewal of Massachusetts's existing state directed payments, so-called safety net providers could sustain cuts of hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The other specific policy the official flagged deals with provider taxes, or fees that states can levy on health care to help cover their share of Medicaid costs. The MassHealth official said the bill as drafted would require Massachusetts to cease collecting its managed care organization, or payor, assessment, leading to a loss of $625 million in revenue per year. That assessment helps fund the health safety net, behavioral health initiatives, child vaccination efforts, the Center for Health Information Analysis, the Health Policy Commission and more, MassHealth said. State government could try to modify its existing waiver to comply with the proposed rule, but the official said that would still lead to significant reductions in the assessments collected, plus require a statutory change and potentially new federal approval. House Republicans have said their proposal would slash wasteful spending and empower renewal of President Donald Trump's tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of the year. 'When so many Americans who are truly in need rely on Medicaid for life-saving services, Washington can't afford to undermine the program further by subsidizing capable adults who choose not to work,' U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, a Republican who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote in an op-ed this week. MassHealth, which combines Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program under one umbrella, provides low- or no-cost coverage to more than 2 million Bay Staters. The program is the biggest area of spending in the annual state budget. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation projected MassHealth spending will surpass $21.5 billion in fiscal 2025, with $13.3 billion reimbursed by the federal government. It's still not clear if the changes embraced by House Republicans will become law. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said Wednesday he would not support the bill, warning that it would 'cut health care for the working poor,' The New York Times reported. Any cut to federal Medicaid funding could force Beacon Hill's budget-writers to fill the gap with state dollars, trim services or reduce eligibility. Gov. Maura Healey told WBUR's 'Morning Edition' this week that 'there's no way that state budgets can make up for the kinds of cuts the Trump administration is looking to push through through Republicans in Congress.' 'If we don't [speak up] and there are those cuts and cuts on the order that House Republicans are talking about, people are going to die, kids are going to die, infants are going to die,' Healey told WBUR. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
