White House may increase CAFE for SUVs
In a December 6 White House press briefing, press secretary Dana Perino said the White House has a proposal for a new increase in the CAFE standard for light trucks and SUVs. The president has full control of the CAFE standard for light trucks (which includes SUVs but not passenger cars) and has used it twice in his administration. The news of a proposed, third change in SUV CAFE came in a response to a question on the support for the compromise reached on CAFE two weeks ago. As we reported, the president does not support the CAFE standards that are currently in the energy bill and threatened to the veto the energy bill because of it. Here is exactly what Dana said;
Q: I know there are a number of provisions in there that have drawn veto threats, but what about the CAFE standards? Is that -- the language that's in the bill now, that's in the House version, is that acceptable to the administration?
A: No, the way that it's drafted is not. The President wants to have increases in CAFE standards. He already has increased CAFE standards for SUVs and light trucks already twice in this administration. We have a proposal right now for a third. The reason he could do that is because under the law, he has the authority to do it. He doesn't have that authority on passenger cars. He's asked Congress for it for the last two years. They've not acted on it. So we've asked Secretary Peters and EPA Administrator Johnson to work towards that. But the way that language was specifically written, we can't support it in the House bill, but it might be able to get fixed in the conference committee.
Bush actually lost a law suit recently which said he did not do enough on CAFE, so, that proposal may just be reaction to the law suit. Friday morning, less than a day after the House passed the Energy Bill, the Senate killed it, with a vote of 53 for and 43 against, 7 fewer votes for the needed 60 to get it to the president's desk. The Senate will re-write the bill and there is some talk of making CAFE a bill all by itself. The CAFE compromise was a part of a larger bill and Dingell, one might argue, only made the compromise for the greater good of the energy bill. So, while CAFE is a settled issue in the energy bill, by itself, there might be changes.
Whats going to happen? I would not expect much before next year because there is talk that everyone might leave for Christmas vacation as early as Friday. Even if the Energy Bill or separate CAFE bill is sent to the house, it will probably go through a few more passes between the House and the Senate before going to the White House, which can let it sit for a while as well. In totally unrelated news (he said sarcastically) the Congress and President's approval ratings are at all time lows because they don't seem to be getting anything done.
[Source: White House, AutoBlog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rgseidl 5:37PM (12/10/2007)
If the President really does have the authority to change any CAFE targets by decree, it should be revoked at the earliest possible opportunity. Transportation energy policy affects far too many people for Congress not to have the final say.
If the argument in favor is that Congress is riddled with special interests, I would counter that every Administration has its own backs to scratch. Besides, what kind of democracy do you have left if all the hard decisions are taken by the executive rather than the legislature? In particular, Senate rules that make filibusters possible ought to be jettisoned immediately.
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paulwesterberg 5:38PM (12/10/2007)
The bush administration spent 7 years giving American auto makers a free pass. An increase of ONE mpg from 2000 to 2010 does not constitute meaningful progress.
If bush really wanted to increase CAFE standards he could have done so easily in the wake of 9-11 in order to lessen our oil addiction and financing of OPEC nations. But he chose to keep the status quo and instead of lessening our need for oil he decided to liberate Iraqi oil fields for exploitation by American oil companies. Bush signed the SUV tax break bill of 2003 he created an energy policy that spends little on renewable alternative fuels while giving tax breaks to big oil companies and allowing them access to opening public lands for drilling.
Bush doesn't actually want to increase CAFE standards, he just wants to look like he is doing something like his brush cutting photo ops while on vacation.
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susan.kraemer 9:25PM (12/10/2007)
One error Lascelles:
The vote was 53 YEAs and 42 NAYing neocons.
The Senate needs 60 YEAs to bring a bill to the floor to be voted on, 53 was just 7 short of 60, so the NAYs have it.
So it goes back to the bargaining room to get stripped of the least squeaky wheel among its many worthy parts. Which will go? You decide. Solar subsidies? PTC for wind? EV subsidies for buyers? CAFE standards?
That depends on us. If you care what stays in the energy bill, this is our last chance to call (202) 224 3121 and tell them what to do.
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Lascelles Linton 5:56AM (12/11/2007)
susan.kraemer, Changed, thanks.
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SpinDaddy 10:59AM (12/11/2007)
rqseidl- Regarding assertion "Besides, what kind of democracy do you have left if all the hard decisions are taken by the executive rather than the legislature?"
US is NOT a democracy. Rather, the US Constitutional system is designed on the model of a Representative Republic; wherein we elect legislatures to make decision in our behalf AS THEY SEE FIT. Ultimately, these legislators are responsible to answer for those decisions during the next election.
If you approve of the decisions they make in exercising your sovereign power by proxy, then by all means return them to the capitol. If not, the obligation rests with you to keep them home and send someone more fit in their stead.
Probably the clearest way to illustrate this point is in the case of the so-called energy bill. Were we a democracy you and I would be voting directly on the issue at hand, the energy bill. It is an important distinction far too many don't seem to understand.
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Ben K. 11:08AM (12/11/2007)
Maybe, President Bush will ditch his armored SUV for an armored Smart car. Politicians need to look in the mirror more often, double standards exist all too often. European countries don't have CAFE, all they need to do is look at our legislation. It doesn't work! He's mad because speaker Pelosi is trying to abolish the huge tax credits of big oil. His ranch buddies back home in Texas won't appreciate his meddling with their trucks. While ignoring the immigration issue, costing taxpayers billions. Only in America.
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