Blowing in the wind: The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tougher new limits on smokestack emissions from nearly two dozen states, including Louisiana, that burden downwind areas with air pollution from power plants they can’t control. The Associated Press reports that at the same time, the EPA moved today to remove two states—South Carolina and Florida—from the “good neighbor” rules, saying they don’t contribute significant amounts of smog to other states. The EPA’s proposal follows a federal appeals court ruling this summer that upheld the agency’s right to impose the clean-air standards, which block states from adding to air pollution in other localities. Some states, including Louisiana, and industry groups had argued that the rule was overly burdensome. Read the full story.
Down the road: Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republican David Vitter may disagree on many things, but they both have voiced support for improving Baton Rouge area roadways and infrastructure as proposed by CRISIS, the recently-formed business-led coalition that has been working to make transportation infrastructure a key issue in the gubernatorial election. CRISIS today released the full responses by Edwards and Vitter to four questions the group posed about specific plans to address the Capital Region’s infrastructure needs. Most notably, both candidates expressed positive responses to the first question, which asked the candidates whether they support the priorities previously stated in an election platform released by CRISIS earlier in the campaign. Access the complete responses by Edwards and Vitter.
Something to talk about: Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, who finished third in a tightly contested Louisiana governor’s primary race Oct. 24, may not have his sights trained on Louisiana’s 2016 U.S. Senate race—yet. But The Advertiser reports some of his supporters apparently do. Angelle for Senate bumper stickers have been popping up around Acadiana in recent weeks. A spokesman tells The Advertiser that Angelle has not decided on a Senate race and has not paid for the bumper stickers. State Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, who has acted as a spokesman for Angelle, says his longtime friend has spent his recent time thanking campaign supporters, meeting with political allies and weighing his political future, which might include the Senate race. Read the full story.
