House GOP Spending Bill Laden with Special-Interest, Anti-Environmental Riders

WASHINGTON (December 15, 2011) – The House Republican omnibus bill contains anti-environmental riders that do nothing to save taxpayers money. And it is unacceptable.

The following is a statement by Scott Slesinger, legislative director of the Natural Resources Defense Council:

"This bill continues the House GOP leadership's attacks on the environment. Must-pass spending bills should not be used as vehicles to insert unpopular provisions that would damage health and the environment, and block progress toward energy efficiency. These riders need to be dropped--from this bill and the payroll tax-cut measure.

“Such political brinksmanship courts a government shutdown. And if there is one, nobody will win--not our economy, not our dedicated government workers who will be sidelined, and certainly not America's standing in the world.

“It's time for officials in Washington to act responsibly on behalf of a society that supports them--by protecting our health and well-being instead of catering to powerful special interests and the extremist ideology of the Tea Party.”'