According to the lead editorial in today's Washington Post, Rep. Rick Boucher is trying to "kneecap" California and "kill the Golden State's emissions standards." The Post writes:
THERE IS a bald attempt in Congress to short-circuit California's effort to regulate tailpipe emissions -- with Democrats leading the charge. A bill from the chairman of the House energy and air quality subcommittee, Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va. -- or is that D-Big Coal?), would halt recent moves by states to limit the emission of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. He insists, "This is not an attack on California." Color us unconvinced.
Color me completely unconvinced as well. Frankly - and I say this with both sadness and anger - what Rick Boucher is doing here is a disgrace. Look, Boucher has been a great Congressman for many years. And yes, I understand his desire to protect coal interests, given that he's from a coal producing region. But this attempt to impede California and other states from reducing their automobile fuel economy standards - while "strip[ping] the EPA of its authority" in this area - is utterly unacceptable. As the Post writes, it is time for House Speaker Pelosi and others to "gird for battle" on this one. I couldn't agree more.
The US, in the past, has led on (some) major environmental issues, from Clean Air to Clean Water Acts (for example), providing data/model for much of the world to look to for a changed path.
In some cases, these have been led by state action helping to set a path for Federal action (and knowledge before action).
If there were serious Federal steps moving forward ... serious progress that looked to actual provide a path to meet Global Warming challenges ... then the argument for one standard might have a leg to stand on. But, the single Federal standard argument is an argument for lowest common denominator. And, when it comes to Global Warming issues, that is an extremely low "lowest".
Boucher's bill exacerbates a serious situation, making it worse. Despite those arguing that criticism of a Democrat is somehow outside the bounds of reasonable discourse (makes me think that I'm reading LGF or Redstate, no?), this bill is a disaster and Boucher deserves the Washington Post editorial page (lead editorial) hit ... along with the outrage that is across the environmental/energy/global warming blogosphere/communities.
And now you do something like this. I just cannot understand what possessed you to do something this foolish. Please, Congressman Boucher, come back to the light!!
Matusleo
Ut Prosim