Is the Bush Administration trying to make environmentalism against the law?

It takes sick people to do this.  With Karl Rove complaining there are too many lawyers in this country, he leaves out his sinister caveat - "there are too many lawyers against our side".  Because if this ruling goes through, California's environmentalism could be subject to litigation - by people who want to allow more pollution!

And while Karl Rove would love for polluters to be allowed to sue states like California for their tough environmental regulations (which a Stanford University study found to have saved $56 billion for California's economy in the past 3 decades), the moral depravity and economic irresponsibility of this action needs a swift response and public outrage.  (I am more outraged about this than anything in the immigration bill).

Read below:

From the Fresno Bee (editorial), April 9, 2006:

"To combat global warming, California approved rules two years ago requiring auto manufacturers to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Pollution from cars and light trucks would need to drop 25% by 2009. Emissions from heavier trucks and sport utility vehicles would need to drop 18%.

With the federal government refusing to act on global warming, 10 other states have adopted California's standards. Auto manufacturers have sued in response. That's no surprise. Nor is it surprising that the White House is giving them plenty of cover.

This week, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta issued what he called "ambitious" new fuel standards on cars and trucks. What he didn't mention is that his 371-page rule includes a section that overrides any fuel standards set by individual states. The Bush administration contends that California's emission rules are the equivalent of new fuel economy standards. It's an artful interpretation, and it mirrors the legal arguments of the automakers.

Because California began regulating air pollution before the federal government did, it has special authority to set its own vehicle pollution standards. But to do so, it needs a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Ideally, states wouldn't need to be setting their own rules on greenhouse gases if the Bush administration were taking the problem seriously and working to reduce emissions through international treaties. Sadly, Bush is like Nero on the topic of climate change. He fiddles while the planet burns.

emphasis added

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