Congress scraps Obama rules on coal mining, guns

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

The Republican-controlled Congress on Thursday scrapped Obama-era rules on the environment and guns, counting on a new ally in the White House, President Donald Trump, to reverse years of regulation.

The Senate gave final approval to a measure eliminating a rule to prevent coal-mining debris from being dumped into nearby streams, while the House approved a separate resolution doing away with extended background checks for gun purchases by some Social Security recipients with mental disabilities.

The Senate’s 54-45 vote sends the repeal of the stream protection rule to Trump, who is expected to sign it.

Republicans and some Democrats say the rule could eliminate thousands of coal-related jobs and ignores dozens of federal, state and local regulations already in place.

The Interior Department said in announcing the rule in December that it would protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests, preventing coal- mining debris from being dumped into nearby waters.

The vote was the first in a series of actions Republicans are expected to take in coming weeks to reverse years of what they call excessive regulation during President Barack Obama’s presidency. Rules on fracking, federal contracting and other issues also are in the cross-hairs as the GOP moves to void a host of regulations.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the stream rule “an attack against coal miners and their families” and said it would have threatened coal jobs and caused major damage to communities in Kentucky and other coal-producing states.

Democrats called the vote an attack on clean water and a clear win for big coal-mining companies and other polluters.