The White House announced on Saturday that President Obama vetoed republican attempts to kill the Clean Power Plan, which is a cornerstone of the president’s climate change initiatives. Obama said that a reversal of the regulations “not only threatens ongoing progress toward cleaner energy, but would also eliminate public health and other benefits,” such as premature deaths and childhood asthma. The new regulations will reduce power plant carbon dioxide emissions by 32% by 2030. Obama issued a pocket veto under a constitutional provision that prevents bills from becoming law when Congress adjourns and the president fails to sign it. Both the House and the Senate adjourned for the year on Friday.