INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has vetoed a bill that would have required the
Indiana Department of Environmental Management to report to the
Legislature when making rules.
The measure was a
diluted version of more contentious legislation that would have banned
IDEM from creating environmental rules that are more stringent than
federal regulations.
Lawmakers scaled
the bill back after much debate between manufacturing companies that
benefit from fewer pollution restrictions and environmental activists who
said the bill would have limited the state's ability to deal with its
specific environmental problems.
A statement from
Pence's office emphasized a need for IDEM having flexibility to take
action when necessary.
The veto was the
first for the governor this year.
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