Yesterday, OMB Watch released an article outlining how EPA’s recent decision to move forward on greenhouse gas emission regulations may (or may not) prompt Congress to pass a cap-and-trade bill. The thinking goes that opponents of cap-and-trade will throw their support behind the bill rather than risk facing new EPA regulations.

But today, House Republicans lambasted the cap-and-trade bill, claiming it would destroy the U.S. economy. Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) celebrated Earth Day by acting like a complete clod. According to Congress Daily (subscription required), he called the cap-and-trade bill "largest assault on democracy and freedom in this country that I've ever experienced," and then said he fears the cap-and-trade bill more than he fears a terrorist attack.

For Shimkus’s sake, I hope Osama bin Laden’s next video doesn’t end with a jihadist call for a gradual, 40-year reduction in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Congressional Republicans (and more than a few Democrats) can continue to whine and fear monger, but they are only delaying the inevitable. The U.S. government will at some point in the not-too-distant future address the growing threat climate change. The public supports federal action, and the situation is too dire to be ignored.

The question is, who will act first? EPA or Congress? EPA is already working on regulations and expects to propose them for public comment "several months from now," according to the endangerment finding released last week. The smart money is on EPA.

For more, see "EPA Moving on Climate Change."