Automakers Tell House to Lay Off On Fuel Economy


By Sholnn Freeman[/align]Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 15, 2007; Page D01 [/align][/align]

Auto industry leaders and the United Auto Workers yesterday put up a united front in opposition to congressionally mandated improvements in vehicle fuel economy, potentially complicating the ambitions of Democrats seeking the most extensive changes in the rules since the 1970s.
Auto executives appearing at a House hearing not only rejected tough rules sought by Democrats and environmentalists, but also opposed a Bush administration proposal to improve mileage by 4 percent a year over the next 10 years.







industry leaders and the United Auto Workers yesterday put up a united front in opposition to congressionally mandated improvements in vehicle fuel economy, potentially complicating the ambitions of Democrats seeking the most extensive changes in the rules since the 1970s.','Sholnn Freeman') ;[*]Wagoner questioned the role of fuel-economy rules in reducing greenhouse gases or oil consumption since mandates were implemented in the mid-1970s.
The automakers favor allowing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to oversee creation of any new vehicle mileage rules, which would effectively take authority away from Congress. Some Democrats and environmental groups fear that NHTSA's rulemaking process, which includes taking into account the impact of regulations on industry, could give automakers an opportunity to water down any changes. Democrats want a law to bind automakers to higher standards.
The auto executives said they supported a "cap-and-trade" system to curb carbon dioxide emissions that would apply to every sector of the economy.
Wagoner was joined at the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on energy and air quality hearing by Alan R. Mulally of Ford, Tom LaSorda of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group, James E. Press of Toyota and Ronald A. Gettelfinger of the United Auto Workers.
The auto industry is prepared to fight over fuel-economy regulation. Its lobbyists include veterans of past fuel-economy fights. The industry also has thousands of dealers around the country who can be called upon to contact members of Congress or visit Capitol Hill. The UAW can unleash its members to press the industry's case.
Gettelfinger said stringent increases in fuel-economy standards could lead to a "calamitous result" of factory closings, tens of thousands of layoffs and the loss of retiree health care, already a primary target of industry cost-cutters. Improving vehicle gas mileage could cost as much as $44 billion at GM alone, Wagoner said.
Union workers have mobilized in the past to help kill fuel-economy proposals. UAW leaders hope for help from the Congressional Black Caucus, which is headed by Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a Democrat who represents a Detroit district.
At yesterday's hearing, the reach of the auto companies was clear. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), who spoke last week of the urgency to "push the envelope" and press the auto executives "beyond their comfort area," talked yesterday about GM's truck plant in Janesville, Wis. The Janesville assembly plant is not in Baldwin's district, but it is "just next door," and she said many of its 2,600 employees live in her district.
She questioned automakers on how to curb carbon emissions at production facilities rather than from vehicle tailpipes. Environmentalists say tailpipe emissions account for the vast majority of the global warmi

 

I agree with em, who the hell is the government to tell us how many miles to a gallon our cars/trucks should get?!?! This crap keeps going at this rate we'll all be forced to drive no power POS trucks that has the same figure for mpg as they do for HP. I'll just keep buying used pre-liberal trucks that get 9mpg, kills every tree it drives past,but looks cool doing it

 

I 2nd that...[:@]