Pelosi responds to removal of 35mpg CAFE standard in House bill
The congressional fight over CAFE standards entered a new round yesterday, with, as we reported earlier today, Rep. Markley (D-Mass.) backing away from the 35 mpg standard he had been pushing. This is the statement from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in response:"My long-stated goal has been to bring to the floor a strong energy bill that builds on the unity we have within the Democratic Caucus.
"I strongly respect Chairman Ed Markey and Congressman Baron Hill for their decisions to withdraw their amendments on fuel efficiency standards in the interest of promoting passage of a consensus energy bill.
"The American people -- in every region of the country -- overwhelmingly support stronger fuel efficiency standards, and we will have an opportunity to address this issue shortly. The Senate energy bill does contain a CAFE provision, which I support."
The statement is, um, interesting. Pelosi has said for a while that she wants to move the energy bill through the House and is willing to let the 35 mpg number slip away to pass it. The House will debate the energy bill soon, and then it'll be time to reconcile with the Senate version, which does include the 35 mpg provision. Looks like getting Markey to back down allows Pelosi to say she's for more fuel-efficient cars without doing the hard work of implementing such a policy.
[Source: Office of the Speaker of the House]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joseph 2:01PM (8/03/2007)
It's been removed? So what's happening now? I sit forever gone or has the number been reduced or what?
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BGJ 7:06AM (8/03/2007)
Here is the short version of how Congress works when passing legislation:
1. House passes their version
2. Senate passes their version
3. House & Senate reconcile differences in their versions and ratify one bill to send to the Prez
4. Prez vetos anything that leads to domestic progress
The Energy Bill is only at step 1 above. The Senate version has the CAFE upgrades intact, and Pelosi has stated she supports it even though the House version lacks CAFE upgrades. It is highly unlikely the final Energy Bill does not have at least some MPG improvements to CAFE. The House just needed more time to debate what level they can agree on.
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xphillyguy 10:44AM (8/03/2007)
Once again, just shows who our illustrious legislators represent, and its not the people!!!!!!!!
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Mike 11:08AM (8/03/2007)
Don't wait for Congress to act, vote with the most powerful tool you already have; your choice to buy fuel efficient autos. You can do with your checkbook what Congress can't with all their sub commitees, inquiries and Congressional hearings. If Detroit can't build fuel efficient cars, well Toyota, VW, Renault, Fiat, Honda, Vauxhaul, Peugeot, and many others can.
Does any one think that Congress or any group of politicians knows what you need and want better than you do?
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Tim Russell 11:22AM (8/03/2007)
Don't fret they are still going to take up debate on the fuel rules. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/AUTO01/708020392/1148/AUTO01
House leaders decided Wednesday to put off a potentially divisive fight over auto fuel-economy rules, leaving until September the debate over how high a hurdle they'll set for the embattled domestic carmakers...
I still say increase the fuel tax, in light of recent events spend it on bridge replacement and maintenance.
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Chet 1:21PM (8/03/2007)
Ratcheting CAFE is a bad idea. CAFE is "free lunch" thinking. We need to tax inefficient vehicles directly, raise the fuel tax -- do SOMETHING that influences DEMAND.
I hope CAFE changes are neutered when Congress is done; maybe then we'll demand real change.
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Tim 2:45PM (8/03/2007)
Tim Russell- If they increase the fuel tax (again) they will just spend it on more social programs (again) in an attempt to buy more votes from the non-productive (again).
I know, let's tax the productive out of existence until the economy suffers so badly that we can't collect enough taxes to service the national debt! Then we can print more money causing the US Dollar to rapidly decrease in value in the international marketplace and causing rapid inflation until houses double in price. Once that happens, the Fed can rapidly raise interest rates in an attempt to cool the economy and slow inflation. This will cause the economic bubble to burst leading to mass bankruptcy and foreclosure…. oh, we already did that?
never mind…
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Owen 7:44AM (8/06/2007)
Goes to show you that this BS that's been spouting on here about Rep vs. Dem is all nonsense. It doesn't matter which party the politicians are, they are looking out for the lobbyists who are giving them the most $$$ and the personal interests that they have sunk their money into. I'm sure there's a good chunk of politicians that have put their retirement funds into ethanol manufacturers stocks in the past couple of years. Tim, I have to agree with you, whereas I'm all for raising the gasoline tax to fund public transportation and force people to make more eco-friendly car choices, I fear that you would be absolutely right about them using that money to fund more social programs that essentially buy more votes. Our 2 party system is appearing more and more broken all the time. I don't think our founding fathers had this in mind.
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GMTony 6:42PM (9/03/2007)
As usual what politicians do not think about is what their legislation will do to the people in this country who work and make the money to pay the taxes that pay their salaries. No one understands the need for fuel efficient vehicles better than the domestic vehicle manufacturers. They are pursuing this issue as fast as they feasibly can. Passing legislation that forces them to "move faster" does not fix the problem. All it does is create financial strife for the manufacturer and cause lay-offs and higher vehicle prices. If you ever want the American vehicle manufacurers to make the best most fuel efficient cars in the world, then buy American vehicles and stop sending your money to Japan. Vauxhall is a GM company by the way.
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