Senator Lamar Alexander is breaking ranks with his Republican colleagues over the issues of clean air.
He’s opposed to a bill introduced by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul that would overturn limits on power plant pollution blowing from one state to another.
Paul says complying with the rule is too burdensome for businesses and utilities, but Alexander says scrapping the rule would be harmful for Tennesseans.
“Air pollution blowing into our state from other states is a jobs issue. Pollution makes out Great Smokey Mountains more like the great smoggy mountains. We like to see our mountains, and we like for the nine million visitors who come to visit us every year to stay a long time and spend alot of money, because that supports out schools and it supports our state revenue.”
The EPA adopted the clean air rule for power plants in 2005. Alexander is introducing his own bill to enact the rule into law. It has bi-partisan support, with Arkansas Democrat Mark Pryor signing on as a co-sponsor.
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