Recently, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied the State of California’s request for a waiver of existing law so that California could adopt it’s own regulations for the fuel economy (greenhouse gases) of cars and light trucks. Note that California was asking to be exempted from the federal law which reserves this regulatory control exclusively to the federal government. Last Wednesday amidst a flurry of press conferences predicting the end of the earth, the State of California sued the federal government over this decision and Speaker Pelosi announced that Congressional Hearings will be held to investigate the decision – A decision to not exempt a state from something.
Now, let’s forget about whether you do or do not believe that the non- polluting greenhouse gases emitted by cars and trucks should be regulated. That proverbial ship has sailed for the present. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards exist and they will for the foreseeable future to deal with either dependence of foreign oil or greenhouse gases. The debate here is what those standards will be and who will regulate them.
Just before the EPA issued it’s ruling, the President signed a bipartisan compromise bill which increases CAFE standards significantly over the next 12 years. As is often the case in a compromise, no one was particularly thrilled with it as the standards are too low for some and too high for others. But it is the law of the land determined by the duly elected federal representatives of every state and the president.
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January 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Even though I do not buy in to the global warming hoax, I am alarmed about what seems to be another example of the utter destruction of our constitution. Why don’t we just do away with states and let big brother fed take care of us.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
AG Brown’s determination to impose more stringent fuel economy standards on California is irresponsible, publicity driven, and narcissistic. His willingness to waste our tax dollars promoting himself as an environmental crusader is disgusting. States’ rights isn’t the issue here; its all about Jerry.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Can you imagine the the improbabiliaty of the car manufacturers trying to produce cars that meet the smog tests of 50 different states? what is to stop, i.e, california from prohibiting motorists from different states from entering the state? AAAKK!
January 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am
FYI – CA has had more stringent standards for auto emissions since 1990. New cars sold in CA have to meet “CA Standard”, (that’s why there is a CA Emissions line on your new car sticker price). If you bring a car in from another state, then (up until 2000) you had to pay a “smog impact fee” of $300 when you register the vehicle in CA. This is another window-dressing program that will do little to help clean up the air or give voters a sense that the GOP cares about the environment.