In a speech Thursday in New York, Sen. Harry Reid had harsh words for Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski about her attempt to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating the emission of greenhouse gases.

As the New York Times reported today, Murkowski “is now at the center of a storm by pushing to strip U.S. EPA of its ability to regulate for greenhouse gas emissions.”

Here is an excerpt from Reid’s speech at a geothermal energy conference:

“Senators Kerry, Graham and Lieberman have taken a lead in trying to craft a framework that would get more than 60 votes. We will need at least that many for two reasons: One, because any bill that seeks to rein in global warming pollution will be fought very hard by the same companies that profit most heavily from polluting. And two, because the rules of the Senate make it easy for a determined minority to stand in the way of all the good ideas you’re hearing at this forum.

“For example, next week Senator Murkowski of Alaska may offer an amendment–to a completely unrelated bill, it should be noted–that would stop the EPA from protecting Americans from global warming pollution. It’s a highly political move, and a highly hazardous one to our health and the environment.

“If this Senator succeeds, it could keep Congress from working constructively in a bipartisan manner to pass clean energy legislation this year. That’s why I will work hard to defeat this misguided amendment.

“I hope that doesn’t come to that. It would be an embarrassment for the United States to fall any further behind other countries, competitors of ours in the global economy whose governments strongly support their own renewable energy companies."

The criticism by Reid follows a letter signed Monday by all Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee opposing Murkowski’s proposal.

“Debating policy choices regarding the appropriate response to unchecked climate change is fair and the Senate will continue to evaluate the best tools for addressing greenhouse gas emissions, but repealing an endangerment finding based upon years of work by America’s scientists and public health experts is not appropriate,” the 12 senators said.

Murkowski also came in for criticism after the Washington Post reported that two lobbyists who were Bush administration EPA staffers were involved in the process of developing her amendment.

Murkowski’s staff responded that “while the senator believes we should take steps to reduce our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, she won’t do it under the threat of regulations that could severely hamper our nation’s economic recovery.”

A statement from Murkowki’s office, published on a Washington Post blog, says that before contacting any outside group,  the senator’s staff sought assistance from EPA attorneys, but they wouldn’t help, so “we sought out the best Clear Air Act experts we could find.” The attorneys are now lobbyists who  have various clients, including utilities.

This is  Murkowski’s speech to the Senate on this topic last month. She says the EPA effort is a serious threat to the U.S. economy.