06/09/2010 12:32 PM ET
They say the legislation favors the interests of big oil at the expense of the environment.

Environmentalists are urging Maine’s two U.S. Senators to reject legislation they say would block new rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The so-called “Murkowski Resolution,” introduced by Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, could come up for a Senate vote as soon as tomorrow.

If the so-called “disapproval resolution” is endorsed, it would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from large polluters and block a variety of other standards announced by President Obama two weeks ago, opponents say.

Opponents of the resolution in Maine, which include the groups Environment Maine and the Natural Resources Council of Maine, held a news conference in Portland today to urge Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe to vote against the resolution.

“The people of Maine overwhelmingly want climate change legislation, and we don’t want to side with big oil and their lobbyists. We want to protect our national security, protect our environment and improve our economy,” said state Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx, a Brunswick Democrat.

Spokespeople for the two senators say they are still reviewing the resolution and have not may any decisions yet.