Senators say it may be time to look at vehicle fuel economy

[UpInArms]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/newsfinder/pulseone.asp?dateid=38601.643528125-841275411&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806&property=symb&value=&categories=&

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Two key senators said Tuesday it may be appropriate for Congress to look at raising mandatory fuel economy standards to boost the efficiency of vehicles in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Sen. Pete Domenici, the Republican chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said at a hearing it may be time to "take another look at standards" but added "I don't know how we would address that." Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., the ranking Democrat on the committee, said "I am very encouraged that this is possibly an issue we could revisit." The U.S. automotive industry has fiercely opposed such measures. The Bush Administration recently proposed changes to fuel economy standards for light trucks an sport utility vehicles.

...short blurb...

Was it the $3+ a gallon or the anger of the average citizen?

[Wickerman]

1. ya think?!!

:eyes:

[acmejack]

9. My reaction exactly!

[bribri16]

45. It was time in the 70s when Carter called for this but was hammered

by the Republicans led by Reagan for even suggesting that Americans be asked to "sacrifice."

[okieinpain]

48. thank you, what about the redicule that gore recieved for mentioning

taking better care of the environment, ie better functioning cars. man dems need to hammer the repugs on this, talking about a talking point.

[Vinca]

2. It's not rocket science, is it? nt

[maseman]

6. Duuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

These idiots amaze me. They don't give a flying fart about the environmental aspects of fuel efficiency nor the major issue of conserving precious resources. It takes $3 per gallon and the possible repercussions of losing the next election to get them off their lazy asses.

And for the pResident, he of course doesn't want fuel efficiency. That means less profits for his fat-cat asshole friends (and of course his own family.)

What a joke.

[hatrack]

3. Visionaries! Visionaries, every one of them!

Gosh, they're just redefiniing the word "statesman", aren't they? :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[MindPilot]

4. "I don't know how we would address that." WTF?!

Are they that fucking stupid? I guess so. OK Senator, here's how you address that: Write a bill that says your corporate average fuel economy will be X mpg by Y date if you want to continue to sell cars in the US.

There, was that so hard?

[Canuckistanian]

40. They can craft a bill for a brain dead woman in days

AND have the pResident interrupt one of his vacations and fly back to DC to sign it.

And they don't know how to do THIS?

If they paid attention to the polls (duh, ya think?), then they'd know that the vast majority of Americans think the government should be doing more for the environment.

I guess the only approval they seek is from the oil and coal mining companies.

[okieinpain]

49. talking point number 2

[tiredofthisstuff]

5. Thank you Captain Obvious...........

[MindPilot]

8. Welcome to DU!!

:hi:

[Occulus]

7. "May" be time?

MAY???

Do you think they would mind sharing out what they're smoking? It's definitely better than the shit I've been getting..... (!!!!!)

[Bleacher Creature]

10. Welcome to 1979!!

Just 26 more years, and you guys will be caught up!!!

[CottonBear]

11. If we'd only steered along President Carter's course

of alternative Energy, increased hydropower, comprehensive energy conservation, 55 MPH speed limit and mandatory production of fuel conserving vehicles we'd be doing great right now.
:cry:

[krkaufman]

22. Yep. And 9/11 likely never would have happened...

... since we wouldn't have had troops in Saudi Arabia.

But then that's a whole 'nother universe.

[Nay]

26. Please, can I go and live in the alternate universe where we listened

to President Carter and got off the oil tit?? Please?

I remember how the poor man was reviled and vilified for even talking about conservation,etc. Now he can say "I told you so."

[Jackpine Radical]

35. You mean the alternate universe where Poppy didn't make a deal

for the Ayatollah to hold the embassy prisoners til after the 1980 election? THAT alternate universe?

[kath]

32. yep, we were starting down the right track in '79-'80. Then Reagan got

into office. One of the very first things he did was to take the solar panels off the White House roof, then he proceeded to axe all of the initiatives you mentioned in your post.

[okieinpain]

50. man, to be honest 55 sucks, but I hear you. damn 55 sucks.

[AZBlue]

12. Huh....would have never thought of that! You so smart!

:banghead:

[ramapo]

13. Should I laugh or cry?

I just don't know

[AlGore-08.com]

14. Does this make them environmental extremists???

Get the wooden stakes!! Get the torches!!!

:sarcasm:

[johncoby2]

15. NSS! Now shit sherlock!

Damn. Is he a rocket scientist or what?

[Drifter]

16. Dick Fucking Tracy ...

Yet another "Let the disaster happen, and we'll clean it up later" mentatality of the right.

Cheers
Drifter

[nookiemonster]

17. Ga. I'm da Senute und I liv in a tree.

Sheesh.

:crazy:

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

18. Screw that. Give me

a 4 day x 10 hour work week. I already work 5 x 10...

DBDB

[krkaufman]

23. Agreed. We need to look at a LOT of options.

And some, quite probably, would give us benefits outside of conservation. Like, a 4x10 work week, matched by a 4x10 school week, might give families more time together.

[ninkasi]

34. Probably a lot of jobs

could be accomplished by telecommuting. Some like customer service reps, need only phones and computers to take care of handling their calls. Before I retired, I was a service rep for a telecommunications company, and there really wasn't any reason for us to come to the office to work, except that the company didn't want to pay for installing the equipment in our homes.

[NV Whino]

19. Duh.

[bearfan454]

20. No shit. It's official now. nt

[krkaufman]

21. Or maybe that we're funding our primary enemies? n/t

[tabasco]

24. What a bunch of environmental wackos and alarmists !

The republicans told us back in the 70's that there is plenty of oil and gas ! It is just all the burdensome environmental regulations that are causing the problems. Yeah, I was there, I heard them say it!

Instead of dealing with the problem when there was time to act, they resorted to name-calling and pseudo-science,like they always do.

They have reaped the wind and now we all sow the whirlwind thanks to the shortsighted and ill-motivated republican policies.

[calico1]

25. It was time in the 1970's. n/t

[DELUSIONAL]

27. Kick - since my reaction to the headline are in the top few responses

[Javaman]

28. Wasn't this same idea just voted down like two weeks ago?

If I remember correctly, Hillary Clinton brought up these same exact issued two weeks ago and it was defeated by the repukes.

[shavedape]

29. time to tax the hell outta the hummers and expeditions

extinction time for overgrown SUVs

[UpInArms]

30. welcome to DU shavedape

glad to have you here

[barb162]

31. charge them an extra 5 bucks a gallon at gas stations

[Joebert]

39. Rather than just SUVs

Hit the obnoxious, low fuel efficiency cars too.

Ooh, that's a purty sports car, how's the mpg? 17 baby!

I have something for you, a tax penalty for promoting conspicuous consumpion. Way to go!

[rzemanfl]

43. My theory is limit them to 5,000 miles a year, if you go over it is

$10.00 a mile to the highway fund, check mileage each year when plates renew.

[ronnykmarshall]

33. Now why didn't I think of that?

[Miss Chybil]

36. No shit! I just spent $52 filling up. It used to cost me $15!!!! nt

[pursuivant]

37. Senate also suggests $$ for NO levees, FEMA, impeachment

"Sen. Bingaman (D-Corporate) continued to say, "One on my staff members found these in the back of a closet in my office. I'm not sure what they are, but somehow I feel wiser and more invigorated. The senator then held up objects that appeared to be a spine and a clue."

[BlueManDude]

38. Naahhh

[Schema Thing]

41. y'think?

[rzemanfl]

42. I hope this article is dated 1973, it should be. n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

44. Talk about slow... we should have demanded this in say, 1975 nt

[all.of.me]

46. duh....... even if they are from my state!

geez, what took ya so long?!!?

[steely]

47. Senators wake up - smell coffee

see how far this initiative goes

[BiggJawn]

51. "The best V-8 fuel economy in it's class...."

That's the latest shade of lispstick GM is putting on its SUV PIG.

Like I've said before, a 10,000 HP Marine Diesel that burns 100 tons of #6 a day might be economical "For its class", but I sure as shit can't afford to feed IT either, and if it was being used by some ReTHUGlican fuck as an SUV out joyriding his secretary to impress her panties off, that'd be discpicable, too.