NYT editorial: The Democrats Lag on Warming: Chairman Dingell's "regressive bill"

[DeepModem Mom]

The Democrats Lag on Warming
Published: June 10, 2007

When Americans elected a Democratic Congress last November, they were voting to end politics as usual and special interest legislation. On the vital issues of energy independence and global warming they are not only in danger of getting more of the same but also, unless Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders step forward, winding up in worse shape than they were under the Republicans.

Exhibit A is a regressive bill drafted by John Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat. For starters, the bill would override the recent Supreme Court decision giving the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, a decision that even President Bush has reluctantly embraced. It would also effectively block efforts by California and 11 other states to regulate and reduce greenhouse gases from vehicles at a time when the states are far ahead of the federal government in dealing with climate change.

The bill’s fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks are weaker than the president’s proposals and weaker still than standards the National Academy of Sciences says can be met using off-the-shelf technology. And the bill would open the door to a new generation of coal-to-liquid fuel plants favored by the coal lobby that could double the global warming gases of conventional gasoline.

The prospects for useful energy legislation are better in the Senate, where the majority leader, Harry Reid, has cobbled together a package that, with strengthening amendments, could do much to increase efficiency, clean up power plants and enlarge the country’s stock of renewable fuels. Mr. Reid must guard against backsliding. But his task is easier than Ms. Pelosi’s. He starts with a half-decent bill. She has to play defense against a bad one whose resourceful architect, Mr. Dingell, while sound on most environmental issues, will do almost anything to protect his constituents in the automobile industry....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/opinion/10sun1.html

[leftchick]

1. money from coal and gas lining their pockets

obama s pushing liquefied coal. Another horrible "alternative". :(

[Telly Savalas]

2. Truly pathetic.

[KittyWampus]

3. So how about all the Reactionary Screamers on DU start writing letters to Dingell/Boucher?

No, they'd rather trash the Democrats as a whole, do next to nothing and then have a hissy fit should this get out of committee, which it probably won't ever with Pelosi in charge.

[Telly Savalas]

4. Democrats have to be prodded to impose standards higher than Bush?

That doesn't strike you as being extremely fucked up?

If this bill won't make it out of committee, then what will? Dingell is chairman of the committee.

[leftchick]

5. this bill will most certainly make it out of committee

pelosi's aide says it needs some "work". It needs to be thrown the Hell out!

If the democrats keep proving they are as corrupt as the repukes, not many are going to vote in 2008. A couple of times a year I buy our local paper. Look at this LTTE I read today...

Democrats join hands with the Republicans

Andrew Bacevich and Cindy Sheehan, parents of sons who have been killed in Iraq, have every right to step away from organized efforts to end this senseless conflict. Bacevich concludes that even Democrats are abdicating their responsibility to stop the bloodshed, "joining hand-in-hand with Bush and big business, big oil, bellicose evangelicals and Middle East allies" (Washington Post, May 27).

Republicans largely continue their support for the war because of pride and partisan politics; Democrats who said yes to the recent funding bill are just outright wimps. For a seasoned cynic like me, this is par for the course.

Unfortunately, this irrationality and lack of will may permanently drive younger voters away from the very issues that are so important for their futures. I'd say, "Vote the scoundrels out," but then who would be the replacements? Worse still, who would vote?