Texas vs. The EPA

AUSTIN (AP) -- Republican lawmakers representing Texas in Congress say they will fight attempts by the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce tougher rules.

U.S. Representatives Joe Barton and John Carter accused the EPA of being too tough on Texas following a meeting with state leaders. They said recent steps by the agency to reduce the state's regulatory powers are a clear case of federal overreach. They vowed to introduce legislation to stop the EPA from enforcing stricter pollution rules.

The EPA and the Obama administration have repeatedly said that Texas is not properly enforcing federal law. When the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said it would not act on EPA instructions, the agency took away the state's power to grant pollution permits.

The dispute began when President Barack Obama took office.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)