Murkowski vote Thursday to strip EPA's rulemaking authority on climate change. Lincoln's backing it.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski is seeking votes to block EPA movement on climate and keeping a firm hold on her seat.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is seeking votes this week for her amendment that would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from addressing climate change/global warming through rulemaking. Supporters of Murkowski’s measure, which is scheduled to hit the floor on Thursday, contend that Congress, not the EPA, needs to address carbon emissions.

The Obama administration and some Senate Democrats disagree. EPA, through regulatory maneuvers, has sent a clear message to Capitol Hill: Pass climate change, or we will.

That has not sat well with Murkowski, who has 41 backers of her amendment, including three Democrats (Sens. Blanche Lincoln, Ark., Ben Nelson, Neb., and Mary Landrieu, La.).

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http://thehill.com/opinion/editorials/101899-player-of-the-week-sen-lisa-murkowski

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), co-sponsor of a separate effort to block EPA's stationary source regulations for two years, said he "might" vote for Murkowski's measure. Several other Democrats co-sponsoring his bill, including North Dakota Democrats Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, said they still have not made up their minds.

"I have not reached a conclusion," Conrad said. "I want to hear the debate before I reach a conclusion."

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also said they had not decided.