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The article reports on the bill approved by U.S. House Republican appropriators that would reduce budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and block the agency from issuing new rules on greenhouse gas emissions and the clean-up of abandoned mines. The bill reduces spending for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, water treatment via the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and climate change programs. Amendments to prevent new environmental regulations were adopted by the committee.

The article focuses on the demand of most U.S. states for greater role in imposing stricter rules on emissions standards. It cites that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has urged the U.S. Congress to follow suit after he signed a law requiring factories and power plants in the state to reduce their emissions 25 percent by 2020. It says that some state officials are concerned that their efforts on climate change may be squelched as the congressional Democrats take interest in the issue.

The article reports that United States President-elect Barack Obama's choice for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Lisa P. Jackson has promised that the agency will address global climate change and other environmental problems. According to Jackson, scientific integrity and the rule of law are the core principles that the Obama administration would like the agency to uphold.