Bloomberg targets states suing over climate rules

By John Siciliano, John Siciliano

Published December 20, 2015

Billionaire media mogul Michael Bloomberg will begin shelling out millions of dollars to counter the 26 states suing the Obama administration over its climate rules, and Democrats aren't immune.

Bloomberg advisers said Friday that the $10 million campaign will target state attorneys general who are part of a multi-state suit comprising more than half the nation, including the Missouri attorney general who is running for governor.

States came out in force last month to oppose President Obama's Clean Power Plan, a far-reaching and unprecedented regulation that seeks to reduce power plant emissions by requiring states to reduce their emissions a third by 2030. The states argue that the climate rule oversteps EPA's authority under the law and is unconstitutional.

The former New York mayor is funding the ads through his political wing's Independence USA PAC, targeting the attorney generals of Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin and Chris Koster of Missouri, Bloomberg advisers told the New York Times.