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Tricky, Tricky
You may remember that one of the ongoing battles between the EPA and Congress is over California's petition to institute tough limits on greenhouse gases from cars and trucks. EPA chief Stephen Johnson blocked the move, despite the unanimous recommendation of his staff, and has fought Congress' attempts to investigate. California and 17 other states have sued in response. But the administration had more than one trick up its sleeve....
From The San Francisco Chronicle:
When the Bush administration announced proposed regulations Tuesday to raise fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to 31.6 miles per gallon by 2015, even some environmentalists applauded. But then they read the fine print.Tucked deep into a 417-page "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" was language by the Transportation Department stating that more stringent limits on tailpipe emissions embraced by California and 17 other states are "an obstacle to the accomplishment" of the new federal standards and are "expressly and impliedly preempted" by federal law.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown called it a covert assault on California's rules. Environmentalists said the language will be used by automakers in their legal challenges to two recent federal court rulings that sided with the states.
Via Dan Froomkin.
Comments (22)
I know what I'd like Bush to do. Unfortunately, it's physically impossible.
So can we get him to move to Texas permanently, where he can enjoy the benefits of greenhouse gases and global warming while he's out cutting brush on his ranchette? I'll even let him have all the protection he needs, as long as the only way he leaves the ranchette is on a medevac chopper, strapped to a stretcher.
April 23, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
What an asshole he is, really. These guys are such oil sucking jerks.
April 23, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's the problem with Pelosi? Why can't she insert a provision exempting California into these regulations or into any other law?
Doesn't she understand how the legislative process in Washington works?
If an Alaskan Senator can insert legislation earmarking a transportation project in Florida, why can't Pelosi take care of California?
April 24, 2008 8:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really want Jerry Brown to run for Governor again. Please Jerry!
April 23, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please let me know when it's over, and I'll emerge from my bomb shelter.
April 23, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
How a typical thing for Shrub to do. On Earth Day yet. Can't wait for him to go finish reading My Pet Goat.
April 23, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeez, these guys have to be getting a ton of money from the car makers, oil companies, tire companies, etc.
The contortions they go through to create this kind of regulation must have them so twisted up that they have their heads up their ... oh, wait. Never mind.
April 23, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Getting His Way until 1/20/09
April 23, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it 'impliedly' or 'implicitly'?
April 23, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bush can write?
April 23, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would have hoped that one, just one democrat might have read every line of that proposal and caught it.
April 23, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
There was no requirement that the rule be circulated to any Democrat. Nor could any Democrat have blocked it (short of legislation). It came out of Bush's Department of Transportation.
April 23, 2008 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
"When the Bush administration announced proposed regulations Tuesday to raise fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to 31.6 miles per gallon by 2015, even some environmentalists applauded. "
Are these environmentalists brain dead? Have they learned nothing about the Bush gang and their attitude toward the environment in the last 7 years?
April 23, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is not generally my nature to harbor such sentiments, but I truly pray that our President's retirement will involve intensive, long-term oncology. He needs to suffer...
April 23, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I much prefer he live a long, long life. Long enough to see that the "judgment of history" is going to be extremely cruel to him.
April 23, 2008 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right, Masterpro. By the way, there'll be some demented aw-shucks-he-was-actually-pretty-good nostalgia, especially among Republican see-no-evil-ers. The hard core is forever trying to rehabilitate even Nixon. We need to all be ready to smash Bush revisionism when it rears its hideous head. Worst President ever, period.
April 23, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sentence Now,
Verdict Later;
Off With His Head . . .
April 23, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
REAL Republicans may remember something called "States Rights." Certainly these so-called "Republicans" have soldout EVERY SINGLE principle of their party.
April 23, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
no principle need to apply.
April 24, 2008 12:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. Is nothing sacred? Guess not. If there's no respect for the Constitution, why should the English language deserve any?
April 24, 2008 8:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
The total abandonment of States rights and of respect for the Constitution and the rule of law by the Republicans is really astounding. In one breath the same people who demand "strict constructionalists" tell us the Constitution's not a suicide pact and the balance of powers is actually the pleasure of the president.
How do their souls not implode?
April 24, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why must TPM Muckraker continue to torture their readership . . . Please . . . I implore you . . . Stop imbedding photos of Rove.
April 24, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink