Feds urge overturn of Calif. air law

[Rose Siding]

LOS ANGELES -- The federal government is backing a lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court that seeks to overturn a California clean-air agency's attempt to curb pollution from buses, taxis, trash trucks and other fleet vehicles.

In a filing late Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice urged the court to overturn the South Coast Air Quality Management District's clean fleet rules for the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region. The laws, adopted in 2000 and 2001, require operators to buy cleaner-burning models when they replace or add vehicles to their fleets.

snip>

The Department of Justice's friend-of-the-court brief argues that under the federal Clean Air Act, states and local jurisdictions cannot establish their own emission standards for new vehicles without getting permission from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2003/08/30/feds_urge_overturn_of_calif_air_law/

Why doyou suppose Bush thinks this is any business of the feds?

[Democat]

1. I bet Arnold would fight hard to defend the law!

Just like he will fight for California, not bend over for Bush's best interests.

[2cents]

2. Left up to them...

....they'd let things get so bad, we'd have to buy clean air.

Are Kenny and Enron thinking about going into the oxygen business?

[Mel]

13. why not

I wouldn't put anything past Enron/Azurix Corp they where after water.

http://bcextra.brwncald.com/socalh2onews/articles/2002-02-12/02-11_enron_water.htm
Enron water bank try came up dry 

[maggrwaggr]

3. So much for states' rights

How dare California not cow-tow to the corporate-friendly policies of the Bush Empire?

Hell, here in LA we're not too trusting about this kind of thing. Ever since the tire companies colluded to get rid of the red cars.

GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY.

Fuck George Bush. California should secede.

[punpirate]

4. I believe the lawsuit has no merit....

... for one reason. The EPA sets _minimum_ standards. The individual states can set _higher_ standards if they wish. California, because of its vehicle density, has chosen to adopt (for about thirty years) more stringent standards, and they are permitted to do so under Constitutional states' rights determinations by the Federal courts.

Permission from EPA isn't required. The only mandate under law is for the states to meet minimum requirements. If a state chooses to exceed Federal requirements, it still complies with Federal law.

Cheers.

[Rose Siding]

10. It still serves Bush to pursue it

as long as the public doesn't really pay much attention- and they HAVEN'T- not only because it is costly for CA to fight in court- I would exhibit no shock to find that the recall motives are wrapped up with this. It's some diversion, huh?

There is even better legislation that Bush is suing about, as well. Imagine if the whole country copped to the national security benefits of 40mpg in short order.

[Dagaz]

5. What about State's rights?

:shrug:

[mightywurlitzer]

9. State's rights

Would only apply if they wanted to raise a confederate flag over the state capitol building, or start harassing abortion clinics

[prolesunited]

6. My question is

what do these idiots think THEY are going to breathe or their children?

[Semi_subversive]

7. This is a tough one

I have a difficult time dealing with anything the South Coast Air Quality Management District has it's hand in. They fined my State of California agency $50,000 because a tri-ennial report on our employees commute habits was submitted one week late. The fine was eventually reduced to $5,000, but still, how much of a money grubbing piece of shit can you be? All they seem to want to do is feather their bed and true air quality is secondary.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Does anybody else get the funny feeling

that the feds are no longer on our side?

[alfredo]

11. Yes

The Veterans are waking up to that. Even staunch Republicans want Bush and his corporatists out.

[goforit]

12. Hmmmm.....The US Supreme Court doesn't like Ashcroft, seems like

they are going to fail this one again.

States rights are in question and I do believe the Supreme Court
will throw this one out!