Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to consider cost before issuing burdensome 2012 emissions regulations on power plants. Congressman Steve Pearce released the following statement on the 5-4 decision:

"As today's ruling shows, the EPA has continued to handicap America's economy by imposing burdensome and costly regulations," stated Pearce. "The President and his administration have failed to account for the severe harm their emissions policies have caused: higher electricity prices and lost jobs, which always victimize the poor. With many Americans still out of work and struggling to stay afloat, the EPA's actions show a senseless disregard for them. Today's court decision sends an important message to the EPA and this administration that they will be held accountable for these costly and harmful regulations."

The court challenge in Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 14-46, was brought by 21 states and industry groups, which said the agency should have been required to take cost into account before it started drafting the standards.

The decision reverses the judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. It does not immediately invalidate the standards, but remands the case back to the lower court for a decision on how the EPA must account for the costs.