Update: Late Friday Democratic congressional staffs on Capitol Hill reached an agreement on new, tougher CAFE standards for US automakers. 'Big Nancy' Pelosi and Michigan Congressman John Dingle, who is Detroit's man, announced the agreement which will require automobiles and SUVs to achieve 35 mpg on average by 2020. House Democrats had previously been at an impasse on the issue as the powerful Chairman of the Commerce and Energy committee held out for more protections for automakers. The Senate has already passed a similar fuel efficiency standard. If the legislation survives a filibuster in the Senate and a veto from the bunker, it will be the first increase in fuel efficiency standards in 32 years. House Democrats will also probably abandon attempts to repeal $16 billion in private energy sector tax subsidies. The price of progress is high.
The famously liberal Ninth Circuit told the Regime its new CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards for light trucks, including those SUV land yachts, were inadequate in part because they fail to address the problem of global warming. The Appeals Court also said that the Transportation Agency failed to explain why SUV and light trucks used for commuting should have less stringent standards than automobiles. Good point. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), who sponsored a House bill requiring CAFE standards be improved to an average 35 mpg by 2020, said in a press release that he "applaud[s] the court for killing this regulatory turkey so close to Thanksgiving." Speaker 'Big Nancy' Pelosi killed the House bill, but has pledged to return to the issue. The Senate has already passed a bill requiring 35 mpg. The standards at bar for the 2008-2011 time period would only have increased current standards by 1.8 mpg to 24.1 mpg by 2011. The decision is a big victory for environmental groups and the eleven states that joined in opposing the arbitrary and capricious regulations.
US auto emmissions account for 8% of our total greenhouse gas production. The need for agressive action on this issue was made more apparent by the UN climate change report that was publicly released at a conference in Spain on Saturday. Leading climate scientist warned again that if significant reductions in greenhouse emissions are not begun immediately, then Earth will experience catastrophic effects that will be "abrupt and irreversable". Yet only two leading Democratic presidential candidates choose to attend a campaign forum in Los Angeles organized by environmental groups to discuss the crisis. John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Dennis Kucinich participated in the forum. According to bloggers in attendence, it was John Edwards who dominated the floor with his A game. He has led the environmental debate, by being the first to call for 80% reduction in carbon emmissions by 2050. Yes, John, the process is broken as demonstrated by the inaction and backsliding on combating the greatest threat now facing humankind. But the American market will need fundamental restructuring if its to end it's hydrocarbon addiction and that will take some "dark horse" central planning since laissez- faire capitalists have proved unable or unwilling to take on the task. Think FDR not VIL.