Thune paves way for California emissions vote after Democrats throw up roadblocks

In an elaborate battle of Senate procedure, Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) set the stage for California’s strict emissions standards to be repealed.

The gambit, which unfolded across five hours of Wednesday night votes, required Thune to establish that Republicans had the authority to undo three environmental waivers granted to California at the tail end of the Biden administration.

But first, Republicans had to overcome a series of objections raised by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who accused Republicans of setting a filibuster-breaking precedent with their vote.

A vote for repeal would ignore the Government Accountability Office, which determined the waivers are not eligible under a fast-tracking process used to reverse regulations.

But Republicans argued the waiver was a peculiar circumstance that needed Senate clarification,

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