WASHINGTON -- Less than an hour after passing the so-called Protect Life Act to guard the unborn, the House of Representatives passed a bill that the EPA warns will kill thousands of people prematurely.

House Republicans argued that the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 was a "timeout" from long-delayed regulations aimed at mercury that threatened to raise costs on boiler operators and incinerators. But the measure also exempts smaller burning facilities from any regulation at all.

The EPA estimated that the bill, H.R. 2550, would allow 20,000 people to die prematurely from pollution.

But for the GOP, preserving the jobs was more important.

“The House Republican jobs agenda is focused on removing the uncertainty hampering small businesses through policies that promote private sector growth," said House GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.). "Small businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups are the engine of job creation in America, and Washington should not be working to make it more costly and more difficult for them to[...]

[Published in GreenNews - Read the original article]