GAS GUZZLERS IN THE CAPITAL

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 9/26/6 | Matthew Yi, Greg Lucas

[SmithL]

GLOBAL WARMING: Governor, lawmakers don't exactly practice what they preach -

Sacramento -- Despite their outspoken support for landmark legislation to fight global warming, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and some of the leading Democratic lawmakers who voted for the measure still use gas-guzzling vehicles for official state business.

Schwarzenegger, who is expected to sign the legislation on Wednesday at a ceremony in San Francisco, typically is escorted by the California Highway Patrol's security detail in a massive 2005 Ford Excursion that gets less than 11 miles per gallon, according to an evaluation by Consumerguide.com.

The global warming bill's co-author, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, travels in a state-leased 2003 Ford Explorer that gets about 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Two other lawmakers who voted for the legislation, Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Glendale, and Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn, D-Saratoga, drive Jeep Grand Cherokees, which the U.S. Department of Energy has noted is the least fuel-efficient SUV in its class at 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

While some lawmakers have been slow to give up their roomy SUVs, the overall fuel efficiency of the fleet of cars driven by the Legislature has improved over the past five years, mainly because 27 out of the state's 120 lawmakers have switched to hybrids. For example, Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills (Los Angeles County), co-author of this year's global warming bill, drives a Toyota Prius that gets 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway.

But not everyone is on the path of driving fuel-efficient vehicles.

In the Senate, Dean Florez, D-Shafter (Kern County), whose district has some of the worst air quality in the country, drives a GMC Yukon Denali, which gets 12 mpg...

[Bigh4u2]

If people haven't figured out by now that the 'greenies' are hypocrites, then they never will.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Reminds me of John Kerry's hypocrisy.

[from occupied ga]

Reminds me of John Kerry's hypocrisy.

The whole purpose of government is to take your money and tell you what to do. Practicing what they preach never even crosses their arrogant little minds.

[Between the Lines]

The automobile industry sued in U.S. District Court in Fresno, arguing that the state law amounts to an attempt to set new fuel-economy standards, something it says can be done only by the federal government Judge says lawsuit over California auto emissions can go forward

By associating gas mileage with global warming, these libs have proved the auto makers argument in this case to be true. Nitwits!

[ArtyFO]

Have you noticed the number of small cars on the freeway these days?

[KellyAdmirer]

Well. Since it's so important nowadays not to look like a hypocrite or anything like that, I suppose Arnold should just veto the measure - that way he stays consistent in all things, which is all that matters, right, reporters? You've done a real public service indeed.

Or, maybe not. Oh, one of my favorite sayings is from Emerson: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Seems to fit square on here.

[Beth528]

We bought a Cadillac Escalade this year and drove it to Houston and got19 mile's a gallon with it..when we came home we traded it in on a STS Caddy..I loved that SUV and it was so comfortable. With the gas prices the way they are we traded this great SUV in for a smaller car which get about 24 miles a gallon on the road..That really irks me that I am paying for these politicians gas to be taxied back and forth in an SUV..

[100-Fold_Return]

They need to drive Scion boxes, bugs and tCs.....

[freekitty]

That's because they aren't the little people and they don't want their fat sassy butts sitting in anything but luxury.

[Holicheese]

Are you trying to say that J Forbes and the Breck Girl never took delivery of their Hybrid SUVs like they claimed?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I remember Kerry denying that "he" owned an SUV. Of course, it turned out that there was a family SUV and I believe private jet and other fuel feeding machines. I don't remember much about the Breck girl, he was entirely forgetable.

[Republicus2001]

Have you noticed the number of small cars on the freeway these days?

no but I have seen a lot of tweeker and criminal alien cars (beat-up, & no license plates) on the road in L.A. lately...

[calcowgirl]

Well. Since it's so important nowadays not to look like a hypocrite or anything like that, I suppose Arnold should just veto the measure ...

YES. HE SHOULD VETO IT!

CA: ALL ELECTED GOP LEGISLATORS OPPOSE AB 32 - Will Hurt Economy, Increase Taxes
Flash Report ^ | September 26, 2006 | George Plescia and Dick Ackerman
Posted on 09/26/2006 9:51:48 AM PDT by calcowgirl

[Holicheese]

J Forbes claimed that both he and the breck girl had gotten onto the list to get the first Ford Escape Hybrids.

[Xenalyte]

I don't know why people persist in omitting the two first words when they quote that particular Emerson bit. I've noticed that for years now.

Sorta like the way they drop "The love of" before "Money is the root of all evil."

[KellyAdmirer]

Emerson has a bunch of great quotes. One of my social studies teachers in high school asked us to name the brightest person in American history. He said the answer was ol' Ralph Waldo, which took us all by surprise, but I can't say I disagree all these years later.

[jordan8]

drives a 2004 Lincoln Aviator that gets 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. "I would admit that I should get a better mileage car," Chan said. "But I mainly looked at the crash-test factors. I drive every day from Oakland to Sacramento, and I see these horrific accidents on I-80."

Snicker.