Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Congress / Kotz / Politics / Presidential Politics California, Auto Emissions, and the New States' Rights
Posted by Pete Kotz on Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 12:00 PM
But Barack Obama may soon change that through the irony of states' rights. Not the Let's String Up a Negro variety, but a new and improved version.
California has been trying to issue its own tighter emissions rules, only to be thwarted by the Bush administration, which was to the environment what pedophiles are to elementary school playgrounds. Bush's Environmental Protection Agency refused to let states issue stricter rules. Yesterday, Obama changed all that...
He asked his new EPA to reconsider its position. And if California gets its way, it will soon be dictating auto pollution standards for the rest of the country.
This, weirdly enough, is a good thing.
The reason emissions rules were so easily gutted is that Congress is so easily bought. Industry--meaning car makers, suppliers, trade groups and Chamber of Commerce types--simply unloaded their wallets on Republicans, who were predisposed to opposing free market interference anyway. Midwestern Democrats went along because they feared the backlash of unions--and loss of union foot soldiers come election time.
But California legislators aren't so readily purchased. The green movement is so big there, it may be impossible to bribe the California legislature into forsaking voters' wishes. And if California adopts stricter laws, the auto industry has to follow. No car maker can afford to blow off America's largest market.
Which means we here in Tennessee may soon start seeing more fuel-efficient, less polluting cars. Chock it up to states' rights, the 2009 version.
Comments (5)
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"States rights"?
Nice attempt at spinning, but no cigar.
It would only be "states rights" if the states were also allowed to have LOOSER emmissions standards - or none at all - in addition being allowed to have tighter ones.
"States rights" means the state is doing the choosing - whichever direction the choice goes.
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Gilbert, just asking, because I don't know, but what states are asking to be allowed to have looser emission standards? I certainly haven't heard of any.
I for one would like to see TN embrace California and/or NJ style motor vehicle inspections for everything BUT emissions. Imagine a Tennessee where you know everyone driving along with you has working brakes, wipers, and tires with real treads!
Pinch me.
I have no idea whether there are any or not.
That isn't the point.
The point is Kotz is trying to spin this as an example of "state's rights" - which it is not because the federal government is still involved in it.
In a pure "states rights" scenario with regard to emissions, a federal EPA would not even exist at all to begin with and each state would be doing anything they damn well pleased regarding the matter.
