"Energy and Commerce Lawmakers Want a Crack at 'Secret' Science Bill"

"Top lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee want a say in a GOP bill that takes aim at the science underpinning U.S. EPA regulations.

The panel's ranking member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) asked Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) today to assert the committee's jurisdiction over legislation that aims to force EPA to make its data more transparent. The bill cleared the Science, Space and Technology Committee last week, despite Democratic opposition, but Waxman argues that it could affect a broad swath of EPA rules that the Energy panel is charged with overseeing.

Republicans on the committee agree with him. "The legislation addresses important issues regarding EPA's transparency, and the committee has already requested a referral on the bill," Upton spokeswoman Charlotte Baker said in response to Waxman's request.

But while both sides want to take a crack at the legislation, there's almost no chance they'll see eye to eye on its merits. House Republicans have called the measure an important step in promoting transparency at EPA, while Democrats have blasted the effort as a way to hamstring environmental rules."

Robin Bravender reports for Greenwire July 2, 2014.