House Republicans have approved a medley of bills that would cramp President Barack Obama's coal and environmental policies.

The "Stop the War on Coal Act" would stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. It would also quash stricter fuel efficiency standards and halt any new rules that threaten mining jobs. The vote was 233-175.

Democrats dismiss the bills as election-year theatrics that undermine public health. They are dead-on-arrival in the Democratic-led Senate, and Obama has threatened a veto.

 But the legislation could help Republicans make the case on the campaign trail that Democrats are hurting coal jobs and driving up energy costs. Republican Mitt Romney is already airing ads hitting Obama on coal, and it's an issue in congressional races, too.