Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird criticized the Biden administration’s approach to climate policy, labeling its climate disclosure rule as “radical” and unconstitutional during an interview with Newsmax on Tuesday.
Bird, along with 25 other state attorneys general, is taking legal action against the federal government to block what they perceive as an unlawful rule permanently.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently introduced regulations requiring companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, ostensibly to provide investors with a comprehensive understanding of climate-related risks.
According to Bird, the administration’s move constitutes an overreach as it attempts to advance its climate agenda through regulatory means. She argues that such actions jeopardize jobs, farmers, and businesses and violate the law.
The SEC opted to halt the new rule’s implementation despite ongoing legal proceedings, a development welcomed by Bird. However, she emphasized the resolve of the coalition of states to contest the rule vigorously.
Bird condemned the administration’s maneuver as a cynical strategy to circumvent legislative processes. She pointed out that previous attempts by Congress to pass similar climate initiatives had failed, leading to the administration’s pursuit of regulatory avenues, which Bird asserts are unconstitutional.
The attorney general highlighted a recent instance where a federal judge blocked a similar effort by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, underscoring the legal battles surrounding the administration’s climate agenda.
Bird contends that the administration’s actions represent an unlawful attempt to bypass democratic processes and impose its climate agenda through regulatory fiat.