Feinstein's Try To Raise Gas Mileage Is Stalled

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | April 30, 2003 | James G. Lakely

[bruinbirdman]

A Democratic attempt to insert higher fuel-efficiency standards on sport utility vehicles into the Senate energy bill will have to wait until the legislation is considered on the floor.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, failed yesterday to gain support in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for an amendment that would force automakers to increase the fuel efficiency of SUVs by 30 percent in eight years.

[RLK]

Feinstein ought to go into the automobile manufacturing business. With her vision and brilliance she could produce an automobile that would get 200 miles per gallon and sell like hotcakes.

[AmericaUnited]

Feinstein should set an example first dumping one of her big, gas guzzling SUV's, and driving around in a Yugo.

[Cvengr]

Why should Feinstein stop there? Why not introduce a bill to change the Law of Gravity to help out the airlines, while she's at it?

One reason why the average sticker price of new cars pushes $30K instead of $10k is this incessant desire to control all faces of human endeavor.

Perhaps one day those politicians who fail to render a service to their constituents will be removed from office and answer for their behavior.

[goldstategop]

DiFi doesn't understand raising CAFE standards means there's a trade-off. To achieve higher gas mileage, today's SUVs would have to built lighter and smaller to get the increase. The result is a car with less carrying room and that's more likely to result in injuries and fatalies in an accident. Its exactly the kind of car consumers don't want to buy. And yet DiFi knows more than the marketplace about what auto buyers need. She wants to make the decision about what features future cars will have without the public's input. Then again that's liberal arrogance: the Washington Knows Best mentality.

[Pete'sWife]

Ahhhh... The Government Designed Automobile!

In 1974, five mph bumpers hung on the ends of cars like railroad ties.

Emission controls choked the maximum horsepower of the Corvette to a whopping 185.

Gas mileage suffered across the board as side guard door beams added yet more weight.

The ultimate insult was the seatbelt which, if left unbuckled, prevented cars from even starting.

Or, is the ultimate insult to the auto industry - and consumer - Joan Claybrook?

You know what I'd like? I'd like to have the ability to sign a waiver releasing the auto companies from any and all liabilities if they'd make available a car with no bumpers, no side guard door beams, etc. It would be very light, quicker, faster, would handle as if on rails, and would get GREAT gas mileage.

I guess I'm wishing for a four-wheel motorcycle.

[RLK]

I would like to see some of these mouthy jackasses who raise the rabble with their demogoging actually do something and build something for a change.