Democrats face off over emissions bill
California lawmakers lead opposition to a draft that would prevent
states from taking tougher action than the federal government.
By Richard Simon, Times Staff Writer
June 8, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-warming8jun08,1,6180298.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true
WASHINGTON — An unusual rift has emerged between top congressional
Democrats over a draft global warming bill that would prohibit
California and other states from taking tougher action than Washington
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
On one side are House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and a
number of her California colleagues, fighting to preserve their
state's landmark law to cut tailpipe emissions. Pelosi has said that
action to curb global warming is one of her most important
initiatives.
On the other side are Reps. John D. Dingell, a Democrat from
auto-producing Michigan who has expressed support for the legislation,
and Rick Boucher (D-Va.). Dingell is chairman of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee, which will shape the bill, and Boucher is the
chairman of a key subcommittee writing the bill.
On Thursday, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) rounded up a dozen
signatures from members of Dingell's committee on a letter that
strongly opposes the draft.
"We have serious concerns about the direction in which the committee
is currently heading," the letter says.
California's senators, Democrats Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein,
also vowed Thursday to use "all means at our disposal" to block any
effort to preempt California law, suggesting a possible bill-killing
filibuster, if necessary.
The swift reaction against the proposal could doom the plan.
Perhaps the most important foe is Pelosi, who earlier tangled with
Dingell by forming a special panel to consider global warming
legislation. Also opposed are California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, and governors and attorneys general
from other states, including several seeking to follow California's
lead in regulating tailpipe emissions.
"While federal action is necessary and long overdue on climate change,
Congress must not deny states the right to pursue solutions in the
absence of federal policy," said a letter to Boucher sent by eight
governors, including Schwarzenegger.
Dingell and Boucher showed no sign of retreating Thursday.
"Unlike local air pollution, which can be cleaned up by requiring
cleaner cars to be sold in that area, climate change is a much larger
problem that must be addressed nationally and internationally,"
Dingell said.
The fight, which comes as the energy issue moves to center stage on
Capitol Hill underscores Democratic leaders' challenge in passing
comprehensive legislation to reduce global warming and U.S. dependence
on foreign oil.
Energy policy and environmental regulation often scramble the usual
party-line divisions, splitting lawmakers based on their region's
economic interests rather than ideology.
As Democrats prepare to debate their first energy bill since taking
control of Congress in January — a measure expected to come before the
Senate next week that calls for stricter miles-per-gallon rules for
vehicles — some of the stiffest opposition comes from Democrats from
auto-making states.
A House subcommittee is to vote next week on a measure that includes
the provision to prevent states from imposing stricter standards than
the federal government has on vehicle emissions.
California has been fighting to win the Bush administration's approval
to implement its law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Automakers oppose the plan.
The federal Clean Air Act permits California to set stricter
anti-pollution rules than the federal government because of the
state's legendary smog problems, but only if the Environmental
Protection Agency approves.
On Thursday, an auto industry group spoke out in support of federal
preemption of state laws. "The United States needs a consistent
national policy that avoids the marketplace chaos that would surely
arise from a patchwork quilt of conflicting state fuel economy/carbon
dioxide mandates," Dave McCurdy, president and chief executive of the
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, told a House energy
subcommittee.
Dingell said Congress gave federal regulators the authority to set
vehicle fuel-efficiency standards because of "long-standing
congressional concerns about the burden that would be placed on auto
manufacturers selling cars across the country if they were forced to
comply with regulations from multiple authorities."
Boucher cited the recent Supreme Court ruling that the EPA must
regulate greenhouse gas emissions unless it can demonstrate a
compelling reason not to. He said automakers could come under the
authority of the EPA; the federal Department of Transportation, which
sets fuel-economy standards; and the state of California.
"The automakers are understandably concerned about this regulatory
confusion," Boucher said. "You could have at least three different
regulations that would be inconsistent and make it impossible for them
to manufacture their product."
--
There may come a time when the CO2 police will wander the earth telling
the poor and the dispossed how many dung chips they can put on their
cook fires. -- Captain Compassion.
Wherever I go it will be well with me, for it was well with me here, not
on account of the place, but of my judgments which I shall carry away
with me, for no one can deprive me of these; on the contrary, they alone
are my property, and cannot be taken away, and to possess them suffices
me wherever I am or whatever I do. -- EPICTETUS
Celibacy in healthy human beings is a form of
insanity. -- Captain Compassion
"Civilization is the interval between Ice Ages." -- Will Durant.
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMcharter.net
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