The WonkLine: August 27, 2009

The EPA and the Transportation Department “have sent draft rules to the White House for review that would boost car and light truck efficiency standards for model years 2012-2016 and impose first-ever federal greenhouse gas standards at the tailpipe,” but “EPA’s vehicle emissions rules can go into effect only if the agency has finalized its proposed endangerment” finding.”

“Bouts of extreme muggy heat lasting for days, once rare in California,” are becoming more frequent and intense due to “ocean patterns altered by climate change, scientists said in a study released on Tuesday.”

“We must strengthen energy-saving and emissions reduction, striving to control emissions of greenhouse gases,” Chinese legislators resolved, saying China will “draft laws and regulations based on practical circumstances to provide more vigorous legal backing for fighting climate change.”

Seniors are still concerned about the consequences of the Democrats’ proposed health care reforms. “An ABC/Washington Post poll this month found 45 percent of respondents overall supporting Democrats’ proposed health care changes, while just 34 percent of seniors were in support.”

Electric power co-operatives aren’t a good model for Conrad’s proposed co-ops. “Those were providing a service where no private enterprise wanted to operate because the population density was too low and the capital costs were too high,” Robert D. Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and former director of the Congressional Budget Office says. “And what we’re talking about is trying to create a viable insurer that would operate in metropolitan areas and rural areas and suburban areas.”

The Wall Street Journal asks and gives a very honest answer to the question, does health care cover abortion?

According to its latest report, “the U.S. Treasury has so far collected a combined $7.3 billion in dividend payments from many of the hundreds of banks to which it has loaned government capital.”

Switzerland’s chief negotiator in the UBS tax case said that the IRS “may request names of American clients from other banks after the Swiss government agreed to hand over UBS account details.”

According to the Labor Department, “the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for jobless benefits dropped last week, and the number of people remaining on the rolls also fell, evidence that layoffs have eased.”

Roll Call’s Morton M. Kondracke points out that, along with health care reform, Congress should honor Sen. Ted Kennedy’s other unfinished life cause: immigration reform.

The global recession has devastated Mexican border towns which profited from migrants making their way to the US, as lack of work has caused a massive decrease in immigration.

The Prince William County Police Department and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office may drop out of their controversial immigration enforcement partnership with the DHS after reviewing changes made to their agreements to curb its abuse by local police.

“A string of car bombs exploded in Baghdad as Iraqi forces tightened security around Shiite mosques, shrines and political party offices in advance of the funeral of a top Shiite leader…The violence raised concerns whether Iraqi forces can provide adequate security when thousands converge to mourn the death of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim,” the AP reports.

Reuters reports that “Afghan officials said on Thursday they had delayed releasing further results from the nation’s disputed presidential poll, adding further confusion to a contest which appears headed for a second round. Votes from about 17 percent of 27,000 polling stations have been counted so far, meaning results could swing wildly in the coming days. Preliminary final results are due on September 3, with the final tally about two weeks later.”

According to the BBC, “Iran could face new sanctions if it does not show a willingness to negotiate on its nuclear program, German chancellor Angela Merkel has said.”

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