In Last-Minute Move, Bush Ditches Fuel Economy Standards That He Trumpeted In 2007
In Last-Minute Move, Bush Ditches Fuel Economy Standards That He Trumpeted In 2007
During the debate over the 2007 energy bill, one of the Bush administration’s chief demands – besides opposing strong renewable energy goals – was raising fuel efficiency standards to 31.8 miles per gallon by 2015 and 35 mpg by 2020. The administration repeatedly trumpeted their goal:
– BUSH: My proposal at the State of the Union will further improve standards for light trucks and take a similar approach to automobiles. With good legislation, we could save up to 8.5 billion gallons of gasoline per year by 2017, and further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.
– DANA PERINO: While the president’s alternative fuel standard and CAFE proposal would have gone farther and faster we are pleased that Congress has worked together on a bipartisan way.
The White House’s recently released “Highlights of Accomplishments and Results” document also touts the new fuel efficiency standard: “In 2007, the President called for modernizing fuel economy standards and increasing alternative fuels.”
But the President can no longer stake claim to even this mild environmental achievement. Bush “won’t finish implementing new vehicle fuel-economy rules,” leaving it up to Obama to finalize the guidelines. The Dept. of Transportation stated:
The Bush Administration will not finalize its rulemaking on Corporate Fuel Economy Standards. The recent financial difficulties of the automobile industry will require the next administration to conduct a thorough review of matters affecting the industry, including how to effectively implement the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).
The move is particularly ironic. While it is designed to lift a burden off Detroit, the auto industry is criticizing it. “Any delay in finalizing the regulation will make finalizing future manufacturing plans more difficult,” said Charles Territo of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “We had expected that these rules would have been finalized last year.”
As dismal as the Bush environmental legacy is, the punt ensures that Bush will have accomplished virtually nothing on energy and the environment. But there is a bright spot, as the delay “gives the Obama administration an opportunity to move quickly” on fuel standards, notes Luke Tonachel of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
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Well, if nothing else, the Big 3 are gonna LUV this.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:34 pmcaption:
"Dang it Barney, now we's gotta go back to the bunkhouse so's I can change..."
January 8th, 2009 at 3:40 pmMission Accomplished! We don't need no stinking MPG Regulations... Let the free market do it's thing...
January 8th, 2009 at 3:41 pmThe Bush administration moves quickly on those actions which can cause the most damage as possible, hence their attempt to finalize many of the last-minute anti-environmental and anti-labor regulations they've produced (oh yes, and the unwarranted Iraq invasion). But when it comes to anything that might actually be beneficial, they slow-walk it. Twelve more days, and it still seems like a century!!
January 8th, 2009 at 3:44 pmCAFE standards? Sounds like some Urapeein hoo-ha to me.
But who needs standards when you've got a track record like this:
http://tv1.com/playlists/123
January 8th, 2009 at 3:51 pmHere is the key bit, "While it is designed to lift a burden off Detroit, the auto industry is criticizing it. “Any delay in finalizing the regulation will make finalizing future manufacturing plans more difficult,” said Charles Territo of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “We had expected that these rules would have been finalized last year.”
Bush is doing all he can to make sure that the automakers will fail and file for bankruptcy; thereby, canceling the unions' contracts. Another nail in the coffin of the middle class and another medal of freedom for the economic royalists.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:56 pmBasically, he's stopped working entirely. Overall, I really can't complain about that.
Chuck Feney Says:
Bush is doing all he can to make sure that the automakers will fail and file for bankruptcy; thereby, canceling the unions’ contracts.
Good call. I hadn't noticed that part, or its implications.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:04 pmOf course ... So now Limbaugh and Dobbs will blame U.S. automakers problems on MPG standards that the Dems and Obama established. Just more blame shifting.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:06 pmHe's doing what he's always done. When he can't win, he'll screw things up for the poor schmuck that comes after him. More of the W legacy in action.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:12 pmIf Only They'd Have Impeached!
Wow, he rammed through all kinds of stuff on short order, including insuring airlines because they couldn't get affordable coverage. Ha!
2001- 40 million people without health insurance
2008- 48 million without affordable coverage
Bush is a hack on so many levels.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:15 pmWhat a Sock Cucsker
January 8th, 2009 at 4:16 pmI have an idea!
Why don't we ask the Big 3 to make cars that people will actually WANT to buy?
January 8th, 2009 at 4:38 pmMaybe he trumpeted fleet fuel averages in 2007, but previous to that, his spokesman said that Shrub believes in the freedom of Americans to drive what they want.
To make sure they drove the "right" thing, this was in concert with knocking down fleet averages and putting in a tax credit for SUVs.
In short, his (?lack of action / negative action?) suppressed the then market tendency to produce gas economic vehicles. By pushing the gas guzzlers for further marketing, he delayed the auto makers from changing their production towards the more fuel efficient vehicles.
One could easily argue that he is a major reason why that automakers are in deep (you know what) now.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:42 pmthis picture proves what most of us already knew...bush is nothing but a dog fcuker
January 8th, 2009 at 4:47 pmWhat is really pathetic about even such a small step forward, is that Europe has had that mpg for years already. And he could not even do that.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:44 pmA follow up to my comment at #6:
A little-noticed provision buried in the Bush Administration's $13.4 billion loan package to General Motors will prohibit the United Auto Workers from launching a strike as long as the company receives funds from the federal government.
Not only that, but a strike would give the federal government the power to call in their loan -- putting the loan in default and forcing GM into bankruptcy. The government now has the power to force a bankruptcy if “any labor union or collective bargaining unit shall engage in a strike or other work stoppage.”
January 9th, 2009 at 9:44 amBINGO!
The Connecticut cowboy strikes again....bushed.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:11 pm