A House subcommittee is voting today on a bill that would bar the EPA from regulating farm dust. Of course, the EPA isn't trying to regulate farm dust, but voting on legislation that has anything to do with reality is so pre-midterms.

Republicans like John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Herman Cain have been citing the nonexistent farm dust rule for months as a textbook example of EPA overreach. In a way, they're right — it is a textbook example of EPA overreach as envisioned by the GOP, in the sense that it's totally made up.

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The hubbub over this phantom rule — surely one of the most controversial regulations that never was — involved a slow-moving federal agency, and a Republican Party with EPA in its crosshairs.

“I do believe that the EPA does have the ability to change its mind,” said Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), the sponsor of the bill to be voted on Thursday. The EPA has now confirmed that it does not intend to strengthen standards on farm dust.

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You see? That's how effective the Republican Congress is: They can actually make the EPA change their mind about farm dust regulations so thoroughly that they NEVER PROPOSE THE REGULATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE! That's time travel, Kyle. Can you do that with your science?

Next on the docket: Let's do something about these dragons!