Posted on 12/02/2007 5:45:43 AM PST by libstripper
WASHINGTON (Dec. 1) - An agreement among congressional Democrats - including those from auto industry states - to support a 40 percent increase in vehicle fuel efficiency is likely to be the tonic needed to push energy legislation through Congress before Christmas.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a longtime protector of the auto industry, settled their differences in an agreement late Friday on the fuel economy, or CAFE, issue, clearing the way for a House vote on a broader energy bill, probably on Wednesday.
Automakers would be required to meet an industrywide average of 35 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, by 2020, the first increase by Congress in car fuel efficiency in 32 years.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada called the compromise "good news" and said he hoped to take up the legislation quickly after the House acts.
Dingell said the tougher standards are "both aggressive and attainable" and include provisions that give manufacturers the needed flexibility to bring SUVs and small trucks under compliance and to avoid job losses.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.aol.com ...
Well, they're always trying to repeal the Law of Supply and Demand. But what I want to know is when they'll repeal the Law of Gravity? And I hate the fact that nothing can go faster than the speed of light, when are they going to do something about that?
No. I try to read the Constitution and all amendments periodically. I also try to revisit the Federalist Papers regularly.
I find no authority for Congress to engage in matters like these.
The politician that has the backbone to stand up and say:
"We need a Manhattan type project in dealing with our energy policy. Today, right now, we need to start drilling for oil in every place possible, no area is off limits and also start building Nuclear plants across the fruited plains for the objective to be energy independent in 10 years".
That person would get my vote
Everybody missed the biggest giveaway in this bill.
Tax incentives will be given to manufacture fuel efficient vehicles in the US as a concession to the UAW.
The UAW is afraid that if the auto manufacturers are pushed to build more fuel efficient vehicles, they would conduct that manufacture offshore where labor costs are less, hence offsetting the price of the technology required to achieve the higher CAFE standards.
So, the bottom line is this:
Your car will cost thousands more so you can save a few hundred dollars on gas.
The UAW will get job protection in form of taxpayer money that will be used to fund Democrat candidates.
Trucks and SUVs will slowly evaporate while our cars will look more like those driven in Europe.
Relax, folks, I’m not advocating nuclear powered cars.
However, if you have nuclear generated electricity, then electric cars make a bit more sense.
I as well, am well versed in all the founding documents.
I certainly agree with your premise, but we are a looong way off from what the founders envisioned
"We the People" seem to continue to elect representatives whom think they have authority in all matters of our lives regardless of what is in the Constitution.
By the simple fact we continue to put these bastards in power, we in effect have given them the authority to engage in these matters.
Why do liberals feel that simply by government saying something “must” be done, that it makes it so?
Might as well say humans “must be able to live without oxygen.”
I really miss my Honda CRX I had for years. It was a 1991 model (the last year they were made) and got 55-60 mpg average. Sure it was a shoebox but for in town stuff it was perfect. Unfortunately, I sold it after being in a near head on collision because I looked around and saw that if I did ever get into an accident I’d probably die.
Pure idiocy. Congress thinks they can sign a document and *SHAZAM*, gas mileage goes up. This is lunacy.
“35 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, by 2020”
Another case of Congress doing nothing. That’s 13 years away. By then, the industry average will be higher than that anyway. They are just trying to take credit for progress that the market will dictate, and which the market will actually be responsible for.
These target numbers can be reached, but American soccer moms will not buy the products. They will weigh less than half what the current SUVs weigh with tiny engines, possibly diesel. Accel times 0 to 60 in an afternoon.
These SUV-lights will do well in crash tests against similar sized vehicles, but will crumple like a tin can when they hit heavier vehicles.
All in all, think softly sprung, overgrown Citrions.
Absolutely.
Also the laws of economics: Question....In which alternative universe can the conservation of a commodity be increased, by making it cheaper to use?
The same people who want increased CAFE will also lobby for more subsidies for mass transit. CAFE will make mass transit's closest competitor, the motor vehicle, a stronger competitor. Ludicrous, the whole thing.
They should put a wind turbine in front of Teddy Kennedy’s mouth !! LOL
Reid, Dingell, Pelosi, Karl Lenin....oops, Levin, Feinstein all had plenty to say for public consumption in this article.
Even if the GOP leadership cowards are being shut out in the media, believe me there are ways to by-pass press blackouts, but the lazy, unmotivated or corrupted Republican senators will not make the effort.
We are in 1984, folks.
Leni
We have a similar situation, both of our AWD vehicles getting MAYBE 30 mpg on a flat, straight stretch of highway. We have gotten to the point where we prefer smaller cars, and if there was an AWD Yaris or Fit, we'd probably invest in one (my "wish" car would be an AWD Mini with a diesel engine.. that's how geeky I am).
But not everyone wants a Corolla-or-smaller vehicle, and I am repelled by the over-arching arrogance displayed by this gaggle of socialists who would collectively be hard pressed to change a set of spark plugs, let alone chart a revolution in automobile engineering.
Mr. niteowl77
Oh look! Congress is trying to do what the free market is already doing! By 2020 most people won’t be using gas. We’ll just be paying more for electricity to recharge our cars.
Full disclosure: My fleet already meets the standard
1948 Harley - 38mpg
2000 Yamaha Zuma - 75mpg
2000 HD Electra-Glide - 40mpg
2007 Suzuki V-Srom 1000 - 45mpg
2006 Stella Scooter - 75mpg
2006 Scion XA - 34mpg
2001 Ford Ranger 4x4 - 18mpg
Average mileage: 46.43
I can buy another gas guzzler and still meet the standard!
excellent point
Morons, all of them. Soon we will be seeing papier-mâché cars as the only method of meeting this lunatic standards...
Would someone please list all of the wonderful, marvelous, fantastic things Queen Pelosi accomplished for me in those critical “first 100 hours” of her reign?
Yeesh.
Reid and Pelosi are so smart ;they are smarter than Sir Isaac Newton !
No ! They are fools.
Pork-barrelers for labor unions.
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