"Environmental rules may harm Texas economy"

          Susan Combs argues that recent federal environmental regulations essentially pose a threat to the Texas economy rather than improvement. Combs states that these environmental regulations such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s new cross-state air pollution rule, which targets nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, is forcing the state’s largest power generator, Luminant, “to idle two generating units and halt operations at three Ignite mines.” Such actions can result in a loss of 500 jobs in Texas. Combs believes that not only will the cross-state air pollution rule result in the loss of Texas jobs but this rule might also result in a raise of electricity rates. Throughout the rest of the article Susan Combs continues to name more federal environmental rules and argue how these rules that are intended to help Texas can result in hurting its economy by leading to the loss of hundreds of jobs.  

          In this article Comb’s intended audience appears to be the average Texan as she appeals to them through the use of the potentiality of job losses and increased electricity rates. The author seems credible because she is not simply ranting on with simple opinion based statements but she is using various environmental regulations as evidence to her claims. Her claims are not over the top, she is not saying that these regulations are a great evil, rather she is simply stating the hazards these regulations pose in an effort to urge Texans to be aware of the events that are taking place around them. The evidence Combs presents is strong in getting her point across that certain environmental regulations pose a great risk to Texas’ already staggering economy. Overall the article is solid in getting its point across and reaching out to the average Texan through the great use of what are essentially scare tactics.