35mpg by 2020!! Just how much of our Congress does the oil industry own?

[defendandprotect]

Senate votes to raise car fuel standards By H. JOSEF HEBERT and KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Thursday to require average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon for new cars, pickup trucks and SUVs by 2020, raising efficiency standards that have not changed significantly for nearly two decades.

The fuel economy measure was added to a broad energy bill without a roll call vote even as senators were holding a news conference announcing the compromise.

Republicans earlier blocked Democratic efforts to raise oil taxes by $29 billion and use the money to promote renewable fuels and other clean energy programs.

Democratic leaders hoped to complete the energy bill Thursday night, but senators close to the auto industry began an effort to derail the entire bill.

"We will be continuing to oppose it," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., "This is not over by any stretch."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070622/ap_on_go_co/congress_energy

[BlooInBloo]

1. Pathetic, isn't it?

[Mark_Pogue]

2. It damn sure is!!!

It should be 35mpg by 2010!!

[BlooInBloo]

10. It's also pathetic how there are DUers running around touting it like it's awesome.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. And to think that I used to own an '88 model Chevy

that gave 50 miles per gallon on the highway

[Rage for Order]

4. I think Congress is thinking more about the auto industry

With the loss of market share and financial difficulties facing the Big Three automakers, they hardly have the money to invest heavily in R&D at the moment. I'd like to see the standard set at at least 50 MPG for every vehicle, not just a "fleet average" by 2020. However, I think the government should be involved in financing some of the R&D for technology, as it is definitely in the national interest. Get DARPA, Skunkworks, and the various other research centers involved and provide federal tax dollars to assist in developing the technologies needed.

[sakabatou]

5. Sonova...

:grr:

[Jim Warren]

6. Oh well

At least the blocked that pesty big oil tax.

Oil Tax Blocked By Senate Republicans

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a $32 billion package of tax breaks for renewable energy that would have been financed mostly by new taxes on major oil companies.
http://www.whiotv.com/politics/13545569/detail.html

It ain't even funny.

[Major Hogwash]

7. They could do this by 2010, but that would piss off the oil giants too much.

When was the last time they raised the CAFE standards? 15 years ago, 20?

Man, this is ridiculous.
Why don't they just put it off until 2030 when all of them are assured to have passed on?

What do we want?
Cars that are MORE efficient.
When do we want it?
NOW!!

And where the hell is my electric car?

[LSK]

9. your electric car is in a museum in Nevada n/t

[LSK]

8. WHAT THE FUCK!!!!

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY SELLS CARS!!! FUCKING GM WOULD YOU LOOK AT TOYOTA DAMMIT???

IM SO SICK AND TIRED OF LAZY ASS US AUTOMAKER MAKING THE SAME OLD SHIT. GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASS AND INVENT BETTER CARS!!

OR BRING BACK THE EV1!!!!

FUCK!!!

:grr:

[Robeson]

11. Congress is nothing. The oil industry owns our country...

...they set policy, make wars, and decide our future. Congress is just bit players to them.

[fed-up]

12. "Do you sacrifice the safety of your family and get a small light vehicle in order to save a tree?"

to clarify-these are the talking points from Katie Kouric's news show tonight, they ae in no way the opinion of this poster-no wonder I hate MSM

http://www.cbsnews.com/?source=homepage_refresh


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/21/politics/main2962131.shtml
Senators Reach Auto Mileage Compromise
Proposal Would Increase Fuel Economy Standards To 35 MPG

The compromise, approved without floor debate, was crafted over several days behind closed doors with the aim of heading off attempts by senators sympathetic to the auto industry to press a less-stringent proposal.

The deal is the first mandatory hike in fuel efficiency standards since 1975, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace. But auto industry analysts say the last time Congress mandated fuel efficiency standards for cars, Americans gave up their station wagons and switched to larger, heavier trucks on the road – and they could do the same thing this time.

"They don't really want to change their lifestyle; they want to protect their families," said Rebecca Lindland, director of automotive research at Global Insight. "Do you sacrifice the safety of your family and get a small light vehicle in order to save a tree?"

President Bush, who was in Alabama visiting a nuclear power plant, said Congress must "be realistic" about the energy legislation. The White House opposes having Congress mandate a specific mileage number for auto fuel economy. Bush believes the Transportation Department should be given increased flexibility to set a standard.

[jmowreader]

14. Uhh...Rebecca...

Let me ask you something, dear, since you appear to be convinced that people switched from cars to trucks to protect their families.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has two sets of vehicle safety standards. One is for cars, which are intended to be used to carry families. The other is for trucks, which are intended to be used to carry workers to their jobs. We have set the safety standards for trucks lower than the standards for cars for many reasons, including that the lowered standards make the vehicles more affordable for businesses to own.

We know that these huge trucks you guys are selling as perfectly safe family haulers are more dangerous than cars are. They flip easier. They crush easier. They don't have the energy-release systems that divert loads such as you'd see in a frontal accident away from the passenger compartments.

Okay, here's the question: How does someone "protect their family" by trading in a safe car for a less-safe truck?

[TheFarseer]

18. to save a tree?!?!

How would that even save a tree? That doesn't even make any freaking sense! We're talking about saving our economy, saving our auto industry jobs, defunding terrorism, and maybe even saving the planet. This is not "dolphin safe tuna" or save the Salt Creek Tiger Beetle in scale of importance. Way to boil down the issue to completely the wrong thing, you dumb bitch, Rebecca Lindland.

[Captain Hilts]

13. Most. And the R's prevented a vote to increase oil industry taxes today. nt

[Dukkha]

15. Yay! another WORTHLESS bill passed

thanks but no thanks you spineless cowards!

I will be 50 years old by then. Our atmosphere will be decimated, coastal cities flooded, droughts in the farmlands, escalated terrorism and strife in oil countries, gas will be $7-$8 a gallon. But none of that will matter, you'll have raised our SUVs to 35mpg! WOW! give them the nobel prize now! John Muir would be so proud of you.

Fuck them all. stop voting, ignore the government and save the earth outside the system. that's the only way it will happen.

[Strelnikov_]

Considering you will only be able to travel 175 mi on the 5 gal/month gas ration

in 2020, moving McMansions closer to town is going to be a booming industry.

[Octafish]

16. About the same percentage as are owned by Big Pharma.

Which is about the same percentage as are owned by the Military Industrial Complex.

[blondeatlast]

17. If that weren't bad enough, watch Blivet veto the damn thing. nt