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Iowa governor stops state from challenging Trump coal rule

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August 14th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has blocked Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller from joining 21 states and six large cities in a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy easing restrictions on coal-fired power plants. Miller says he sought approval from the governor in June but Reynolds, a Republican and Donald Trump supporter, declined.
Miller, a Democrat, reached an agreement with Reynolds in May requiring him to get her consent before joining such lawsuits. In exchange, Reynolds vetoed a bill lawmakers passed that weakened the attorney general’s powers.

Trump has replaced an Obama administration plan that required states to cut emissions from fossil fuel-burning power plants with a rule relaxing the state restrictions. The federal lawsuit claims the Trump rule violates the federal Clean Air Act.