N.J. Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday he had not made a final decision about whether to support the EPA's effort, however he said he preferred to go after power plants on a case-by-case basis
U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) wrote a letter to N.J. Gov. Chris Christie asking him to support an EPA initiative to stop pollution that travels to New Jersey from other states.TRENTON — Democratic lawmakers today urged Gov. Chris Christie to reconsider his recent criticism of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to support its effort to choke off pollution from other states that ends up in New Jersey.
In a letter to Christie, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) asked the Republican governor to publicly clarify where he stands on the EPA's measure, intended to stem the toxic winds that foul the Garden State's air.
"I hope you will ultimately decide to support the EPA's rule so as not to put the interests of out-of-state polluters or the economic interests of neighboring states ahead of the public health or economic interests of New Jerseyans," Menendez said.
State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said in a statement that Christie should stand with the people of New Jersey "and not the national right-wing which is intent on dismantling our environmental protections."
"I am baffled by this governor’s failure to act quickly on this issue, especially since he recently enlisted the help of the EPA to force a Pennsylvania polluter to reduce its emissions and the federal government complied," she said.
Christie said Thursday that he had not made a final decision about whether to support the EPA's effort, which is being challenged in federal court, but that he was inclined to go after power plants that pollute New Jersey's air on a case-by-case basis.
"I don't like giving EPA any more power than it has already, in general, especially given this administration's use of power at the EPA, which has been over-reaching and stifling to job growth and business development in this country," Christie said at a news conference in Morris Plains.
Christie has until Monday to decide if he will file in court to take a position on the EPA plan, which would force power plants in 27 states - including New Jersey - to install new equipment to reduce their toxic emissions.
The state's environmentalists, as well as two major power companies and the state Chamber of Commerce, support the plan. Representatives of Christie's office did not return messages seeking comment.
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