More Environmental Idiocy From The Congressional Record - IHT

[hatrack]

There are few better illustrations of the disconnect between what lawmakers in Washington know and what they do than an incident that occurred during committee debate on the energy bill in May:

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California offered an amendment to strengthen fuel economy standards for SUVs, minivans and pickups. When James Talent, a Missouri Republican, opposed the amendment with an argument about potential lost jobs, he drew a sharp response from Pete Domenici of New Mexico, the committee's Republican chairman. What's really costing jobs, Domenici said, is Detroit's failure to make the fuel-efficient cars that can compete on world markets.

Domenici then voted against Feinstein's amendment. So did most of his colleagues. This contradiction between the ability of smart people like Domenici to recognize an obvious problem and their failure to embrace an obvious solution is traceable to the political influence of the automakers and their unions, to ideological hostility to regulation, and to inertia.

EDIT

Where do we go now? The efficiency standards enacted 30 years ago after the Arab oil embargo made a huge difference in consumption (and, some believe, saved Detroit in the bargain). But history clearly means little to this Congress or this administration. Proposals expected later this month, calling for modest improvements in efficiency for SUVs and other light trucks, are unlikely to make any serious dent in consumption.

EDIT

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/21/opinion/edfuel.php

[Oerdin]

1. The Republicans

Know how to strong arm their people into towing the party line. Smart Republicans like Domenici know the problem exists but they can't step out of line without getting crucified by their own party. It's a screwed up situation but that's how it is in a heirarchical organization.

[phantom power]

2. I wonder if they'll still think their party loyalty was worth it...

as they watch the disintegration of America.