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Utah House passes climate-resolution urging review of EPA CO2 policies after heated debate
Summary
After two hours of debate and multiple text changes, the Utah House passed House Joint Resolution 12, which urges federal reconsideration of certain EPA carbon-dioxide policies and endangerment-related regulations; the measure passed 56–17 and will be sent to the Senate.
The Utah House voted to approve House Joint Resolution 12 on Feb. 4, 2010, urging the federal government to "slow down" and review certain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carbon-dioxide regulatory actions, including the endangerment finding that treats CO2 as a pollutant. The resolution passed 56 yes to 17 no after amendments to soften language and procedural votes that ended debate.
Representative Kerri Gibson, the sponsor, framed the resolution as a call for balance and additional scientific scrutiny, saying, "So hence I introduced to you House Joint Resolution 12 that encourages the federal government to slow down, to take a better look at cap and trade policy." Gibson argued the resolution sought to ensure policy choices do not unduly harm Utah agriculture and consumers while preserving space for research and debate.
Opponents said the resolution went too far in challenging established science and risked undermining policy discussion. "I stand in opposition to this resolution," one member said during floor debate, arguing the measure "goes too far in attacking the science" and urged colleagues to focus on policy, not disputing scientific findings.
A string of amendments and word changes preceded the final vote. Representative McKiff successfully moved to replace the word "flawed" with "questionable" in one line to moderate the resolution's tone. A separate amendment to change the phrase "immediately halt" (an attempt to replace it with "reevaluate") failed after debate. Members who opposed the latter amendment cited practical concerns: some EPA programs provide matching funds used to retrofit diesel school buses, an initiative one speaker said converted a $100,000 state allocation into roughly $3.2 million through federal and local matches to reduce children's exposure to bus exhaust.
Sponsors and supporters emphasized economic concerns tied to broad federal carbon controls, repeatedly calling cap-and-trade-style proposals a tax on energy and agriculture; critics countered that scientific evidence supports treating greenhouse-gas emissions as a policy matter requiring careful attention. After the House called the question to end debate, the body adopted HJR12 as amended and will transmit it to the Senate for its consideration.
What happens next: HJR12 is a joint resolution requesting federal action and does not itself change state law. The resolution will be transmitted to the Utah Senate; any further state action would depend on subsequent Senate consideration and potential follow-up measures.
