"Climate change activists and their opponents are treating this week's Senate vote on the Trump administration's Clean Power Plan rollback as a sign of how Senate Democrats plan to fight on climate.
The Congressional Review Act vote this week to repeal the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule is almost entirely symbolic, since Democrats only hold 45 of the 100 seats in the upper chamber — plus two independent senators who caucus with them — and the House hasn't proposed companion legislation.
But the CRA, which allows Congress 60 legislative days to review executive branch actions, is one of the few ways Democrats can push liberal climate policies without the approval of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The law allows a resolution of disapproval to come to the floor with the support of just 30 senators.
Democrats and environmentalists are making the case that it's allowing them to call attention to climate change amid years of GOP reluctance."
Nick Sobczyk and Timothy Cama report for E&E Daily October 16, 2019.
