On Wednesday , the U.S. Senate will have the opportunity to put a stop to one of the most expensive Environmental Protection Agency rules in history : the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards rule . This is the centerpiece of President Obama 's war on coal . Called MATS , or Utility MACT , this rule will destroy jobs and cause energy prices to skyrocket . By voting for my resolution , SJR 37 , members of the Senate can prevent the Obama EPA from inflicting so much economic pain on American families . How do we know that Utility MACT is designed to kill coal ? Just ask EPA Region One Administrator Curt Spalding , who was seen on video admitting that because of the EPA 's regulatory barrage , `` If you want to build a coal plant you got a big problem . '' He went on to say that EPA 's decision to kill coal was `` painful every step of the way , '' because `` if you go to West Virginia , Pennsylvania , and all those places , you have coal communities who depend on coal . '' Well , those communities that depend on coal are feeling that pain , and that 's why bipartisan momentum is growing for my resolution . West Virginia 's Gov . Earl Ray Tomblin , a Democrat , recently wrote to West Virginia Sens . Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller urging them to vote for SJR 37 , saying EPA 's rules have `` coalesced to create an unprecedented attack on West Virginia 's coal industry . '' West Virginia 's Lt. Gov . Jeffrey Kessler echoed this concern , saying that EPA is destroying the state 's `` most valuable state natural resource and industry . '' Labor , too , has come out to stop the job-killing over-regulation . Cecil Roberts , president of the United Mine Workers , one of the biggest labor unions in the country , recently sent a letter to several senators asking them to support my resolution because of `` the threat that the EPA MATS rule poses to United Mine Workers Association members ' jobs , the economies of coal field communities , and the future direction of our national energy policy . '' In addition , we 've also secured the support of the Chamber of Commerce , the National Federation of Independent Business , the Farm Bureau and the National Association of Manufacturers , all of which represent major groups who are apparently not `` doing fine '' in the face of EPA 's regulations . Let me be clear that this campaign to destroy coal is not about public health . If it were , Democrats would not have voted against my Clear Skies bill back in 2005 , a bill that would have achieved a reduction in mercury emissions of 70 % by 2018 . In fact , at that time , then-Sen. Obama served with me on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works . As he explained , `` I voted against the Clear Skies bill . In fact , I was the deciding vote . '' There is a crucial difference between Clear Skies and Utility MACT . Clear Skies would have reduced emissions without harming jobs and our economy because it was based on a common-sense , market-based approach , designed to retain coal as a generator of electricity while reducing emissions each year . On the other hand , Utility MACT is designed to kill coal as well as all the good paying jobs that come with it , while providing little -- if any -- environmental gain . Just before President Obama felt compelled to halt EPA 's plan to tighten the ozone standard after significant push-back from Congress , then-White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley asked , `` What are the health impacts of unemployment ? '' That is one of the most important questions before the Senate in preparation for the vote to stop Utility MACT . What are the health impacts on children whose parents will lose their jobs because of President Obama 's war on coal ? What are the health impacts on children in low-income families whose parents will have to spend more for skyrocketing electricity costs and less on their kids ' well-being ? The good news is that Congress can halt President Obama 's senseless war on fossil fuels and affordable energy . Many of my Democratic colleagues have gone on record saying they want to rein in this agency . Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill is one of them ; she told Missourians that she is determined to `` hold the line on the EPA . '' Does that mean she , and other Senate Democrats who have made similar statements , will vote to stop the centerpiece of Obama 's war on coal ? I believe the EPA should go back to the drawing board and draft a rule targeted at mercury that would balance economic growth with environmental gain . The vote on my resolution will clearly demonstrate to the American people which senators will `` hold the line '' and stand with their constituents for jobs and affordable energy , and which senators will stand with President Obama and his global warming agenda that will be painful -- `` every step of the way '' -- for their constituents . Follow @ CNNOpinion on Twitter .
Not to vote on Jim Inhofe 's resolution to overturn EPA 's proposed emissions rule . Rule applies to coal - fired plants , he says , and will hike energy prices , protect miners , etc . Inhofe : United Mine Workers , major business groups oppose EPA 's excessive regulation . EPA emissions rule part of President Obama 's global warming agenda , Inhofe says .