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It should be an election issue especially because of the hypocritical contrast to the following article, from just yesterday:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,51916,00.html

Carmakers Fuming Over California Bill to Cut Tailpipe Exhaust

Friday, May 03, 2002

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are moving to impose the nation's first restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks, and automakers are fuming.

Global auto manufacturers say the latest restrictions could filter to other states, hampering supplies and sales nationally of popular sport utility vehicles and light trucks.

With more vehicles on the road than any other state, California has traditionally led the nation's emissions-standards policies.

Thursday's vote in the Senate was portrayed by opponents — who include the United Auto Workers Union — as an end-run around the federal government's failure to impose higher fuel mileage standards.

Carbon dioxide, one of many components of vehicle exhaust, is the same non-toxic gas exhaled by humans. It accounts for 80 percent of greenhouse gases; 98 percent of the atmosphere's carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels.

Industry representatives say unlike toxic emissions such as ozone and diesel soot, no technology exists to restrict natural gases like carbon dioxide and methane, meaning their only choice for compliance is to build more fuel efficient cars.

Senate Democrats prevailed in the 22-13 vote. A similar bill already passed the Democrat-dominated Assembly; if the Assembly agrees to the Senate's changes, the bill would go to Gov. Gray Davis, who has not indicated a position.

Republican senators called Thursday's vote a "rush to judgment" and questioned the scientific legitimacy of global warming itself.

"There's enough evidence to debunk that," Sen. Maurice Johannessen said.

Depending on which version of the bill prevails, carmakers would have to reduce greenhouse gases in the nation's largest fleet by 2008 or 2009. It does not affect commercial vehicles.

Carmakers, who have had three years of record car and truck sales, say this time the state is reaching too far.

"It becomes enormously problematic for multinational manufacturers to make state-specific cars," said Kris Kiser, vice president of state affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Kiser, who represents the world's major automakers, said he's hoping for a Davis veto, calling the legislation an attempt to subvert federal decisions not to raise fuel mileage requirements.

California legislators and environmentalist maintained during committee hearings that carmakers only innovate when forced by legislation, and criticized the industry for hiring lawyers and lobbyists instead of paying engineers to build better cars.

"It's a very, almost reactionary industry from the standpoint of doing it the way they want to do it, and that's one of the reasons they're in trouble," said Senate President Pro Tem John Burton.

Nationally, minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks, which typically get lower fuel mileage, make up 51 percent of cars and trucks sold, said Paul Taylor, economist with the National Automobile Dealers Association.

The bill's opponents say making lighter and smaller cars is the only way to comply with the standards, meaning consumers will be offered less choices.