Topic: Epa Regulation

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in cases that could overturn "Chevron deference," a 1984 legal precedent that requires courts to defer to government agencies' interpretations of ambiguous laws. The current dispute involves Atlantic herring fishermen who were forced to pay $700 per day for federal monitors on their boats. A ruling against Chevron could significantly curtail the power of the administrative state across all federal agencies.

The history of Chevron deference is traced back to the Reagan administration's efforts to loosen EPA regulations. Ironically, environmental groups sued to stop the deregulation, leading to the Supreme Court ruling that established agency authority.

The EPA announced plans to regulate aircraft emissions similarly to cars and power plants, citing that airplanes account for 3% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Critics argue these regulations will lead to higher ticket prices and more cramped seating without significant environmental benefits. This move is viewed as an expansion of agency power to create laws through regulation rather than legislation.

Ben Shapiro argues that every government law and regulation, including EPA water usage rules, is ultimately backed by the threat of armed force. He claims that while the right loves guns for self-defense, the left utilizes the "government gun" to violate individual rights. Shapiro asserts that if Americans understood the violent nature of enforcement, they would be more cautious about granting the government power.

President Obama's Executive Order 13563, "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review," is analyzed as a significant expansion of executive branch power over federal agencies. The hosts discuss an accompanying Wall Street Journal op-ed that used the deregulation of saccharin as a populist example to mask broader regulatory changes.

The Environmental Protection Agency begins classifying milk as a non-petroleum oil due to its animal fat content. This reclassification requires dairy farmers to implement expensive spill prevention and control plans similar to those used for petroleum products.