Senators push for higher fuel economy standards

WASHINGTON — Automakers need to be pushed to raise gas mileage requirements on new vehicles to help consumers struggling with high fuel prices, a group of senators said Tuesday.

A bill introduced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, would require the auto industry to meet a combined fleet average for all automobiles of 35 miles per gallon by 2017.

"We believe that we have the technology today to increase the fuel economy of all vehicles," Feinstein said. "We just need the political will."

The legislation was the latest attempt by some lawmakers to boost standards required by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy. Past efforts to dramatically raise standards have failed, but supporters say $3-a-gallon gas prices could help make their case.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8IC7K882-170.shtml

I wonder if this stands a change of passing - and if it's too little too late.

Olympia is running for re-election and needs to break away fromt he President to maintain her "moderate Republican" (barf) image.

This pisses me off because not too long ago the Republicans in Congress killed any sort of raise on the CAFE standards.

I owned a 1974 Triumph Spitfire 1500 cc that got 63 on the highway at 70 mph. I have a 1996 Aerostar VAN that gets 33 on the highway at 70 mph.

BIG DEAL on 35!

The House would need to pass some version and it would have to get through Conference commitee (which is the realistic end-all nowadays). It will be stricken from the bill long before the White House would ever get it (and then you have those signing statements).