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House GOP blasts Obama's 'war on coal' By Pete Kasperowicz

Several House Republicans took to the floor Tuesday afternoon to criticize President Obama's speech on the environment at Georgetown University for launching what they said is the next step in the "war on coal."

"My goodness," said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). "Where are the Obama administration's priorities? Not on jobs, not on affordable energy.

"President Obama's war on coal is already a threat to thousands of American jobs."

Foxx and other Republicans said Obama is again favoring "green" energy sources, but ignoring the need for oil and gas in his energy policies.

"Today the president will once again abandon his claim to support an all-of-the-above energy stance, and unveil a new plan, focused on waging a war on coal with big-government regulations destroying jobs," Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said.

Obama has said he would move to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, a move likely to put limitations on coal-fired plants. Members said that would put a squeeze on jobs in this sector of the economy, and raise prices for consumers.

"Why … does the president still insist on standing in the way of creating new jobs by expanding America's energy sector using all of our valuable resources: water, wind, solar, gas and oil?" Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) asked.

"After over four years with unemployment at or above 7.5 percent, it is no wonder that the American people do not have faith in this administration's ability to lead," Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.) said.

Republicans appear to have picked up their "war on coal" line from Daniel Schrag, a science adviser to the White House who wrote a letter to The New York Times saying that a war on coal is needed. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) said Obama's plan fits Schrag's vision.

"While he will not explicitly say it, this is the next step in this administration's war on coal that they have been waging for the past five years and will not stop until all coal-fired power plants in this country have been shut down by the EPA," Wagner said.