Idaho Attorney General Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Against Biden Administration's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Rule - bigcountrynewsconnection.com

Idaho Attorney General Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Against Biden Administration's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Rule | Idaho | bigcountrynewsconnection.com

BOISE – Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, in collaboration with Kentucky and 19 other states, has taken legal action against a recent Biden Administration rule that mandates greenhouse gas reductions for states receiving funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The lawsuit, filed today in the United States District Court in Paducah, KY, contends that the U.S. Department of Transportation lacks the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and accuses FHWA of exceeding its mandate. The complaint argues that the Biden Administration's move has sidestepped the Constitution and encroached on state sovereignty.

The complaint asserts, "The Constitution is also clear that action by the States cannot be mandated through federal action like the Final Rule. The Federal Government may not compel the States to enact or administer a federal regulatory program because 'the Constitution protects us from our own best intentions: It divides power among sovereigns and among branches of government precisely so that we may resist the temptation to concentrate power in one location as an expedient solution to the crisis of the day.'"

Attorney General Raúl Labrador emphasized Idaho's rapid growth and substantial investment in critical infrastructure, with over 700 projects undertaken by the Idaho Department of Transportation to expand or enhance the national highway system. Labrador stated, "Idaho citizens and businesses depend on effective and efficient surface transportation. The federal government demanding a reduction in vehicle miles traveled is ridiculous. States simply cannot be forced to implement the policy whims of a federal government, and the Constitution is clear about this."

Idaho, like other state Departments of Transportation, receives funding from FHWA, subjecting it to various regulations, including the contested Final Rule. The state seeks the authority to continue making decisions that maximize the benefits of its highway investments without the imposition of what it considers unlawful regulations through the Final Rule. The lawsuit contends that such regulations would impose costs and restrict the state's choices in implementing its federally assisted highway program. The legal battle underscores the ongoing debate about the balance of power between the federal government and states on environmental regulations.