Today, the GOP wants the proposed CAFE 2017-2025 fuel economy regulations reviewed.
House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who chairs the subcommittee overseeing regulations, and Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., an auto dealer, wrote to the Obama administration's top regulatory review official, calling for a further review.
The committee asked Boris Bershteyn, acting administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, "to return the rule to the agencies for further consideration of its adverse consequences to consumers and the economy."
"Higher fuel efficiency standards is a goal I share—but not at the expense of consumer safety and not when those rules are implemented under a cloak of secrecy in a manner outside the law. The process followed by Obama administration officials to develop these standards was politicized, not rooted in sound science and was a political end run around seasoned experts who are required by law to lead the process," Issa said.
Kelly said "the new CAFE standards will limit choice, compromise safety, and increase costs for millions of Americans who are already struggling to get by in the Obama economy. The American consumer was not given fair representation at the CAFE negotiation table, and they have since been put on the menu."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency last week abandoned a self-imposed deadline of finalizing the 2017-25 rules by Wednesday, with one House Republican suggesting the administration was having second thoughts.
NHTSA chief David Strickland said early Tuesday that the rule would be unveiled in "days not weeks." Auto officials say the regulation could be released as early as Thursday.
On Friday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in an interview that the rules will be announced shortly.
He said the Obama administration is not backing away from what it considers one of its signature domestic achievements, but said it's unclear if it will be released next week.
"It's coming soon. We're working with the White House and the EPA to roll it out," LaHood said. "It's going to happen. ... There's no backing away — it's just making sure everything's done correctly."
LaHood noted that hiking fuel economy regulations has been a priority since soon after President Barack Obama was sworn in Jan. 20, 2009. "The president is very proud of the work we've done," LaHood said.
Economy standards will cost the auto industry an estimated $157.3 billion to reach, but is intended to save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump. The rules will add about $2,000 to the price of an average vehicle by 2025, the government forecasts.
Last summer, NHTSA the EPA and the California Air Resources Board held largely secret talks with automakers to reach a deal on the 2017-25 fuel rules.
Under the deal, the agencies agreed to lower increases for light trucks from 2017-21 of 3.5 percent and 5 percent annual increases for cars. They also agreed to a midterm review to ensure that the final years of the program are feasible. California also agreed not to impose its own standards.
It's expected the final rule will largely conform to last year's agreement reached with 13 major automakers, including Detroit's Big Three, Toyota Motor Corp, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. Among major automakers, only Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG refused to sign on.
Source: www.dailytech.com
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