Arnold and Obama celebrate new standards

Hey Arnold, your referendum on saving California’s financial future is going to be decided today, so where will you be for the last-minute voter push?

In Washington, D.C., accepting kudos from the Obama administration and the world for the first standards that force sharp reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions and improvements in auto mileage. 

Both steps are a vindication of California’s battle to move the rest of the country to serious environmental and energy-saving standards. They also give Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a platform to be highly visible but in a good way -- unlike the expected results of tonight’s series of propositions.

It is fitting that the governor and the new president will be together again. Both entered office with a burst (dare we say it?) of vigor and promises to upend the existing political cart. Arnold argued that business as usual must end in Sacramento, and Obama has made similar derogatory remarks about how Washington gets things done or, more often, undone.

Much to Arnold’s consternation, his efforts with the Legislature to solve the state’s ongoing economic woes are similar to a horse designed by committee, and voters are expected to turn down the package today, according to polls.

Obama has been faring much better, but he has solid congressional majorities and is just at the beginning of his tenure. That is different from Arnold, who faces the question of whether to resume his movie career or (with one eye on the recent appointment of a Republican governor to an ambassadorship) to moving onto another political stage.

In any case, today’s new rules for cars and trucks would establish a single nationwide standard that would require a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide and other emissions from vehicles sold in the United States by 2016. The new limits are projected to reduce U.S. oil consumption by about 5% a year.

– Michael Muskal

Comments

[Observer]

wow 5%...we are in deep doo doo

$5 gas is coming back......

We need to make alternative fuels legal....the ones that are already at home.

Did you know that if you take water and electricity you can make hydrogen gas? Did you know the hydrogen gas when burned just creates water? Did you know that there is a compnay that creates a hydrogen gas generator that could be at your home now making 100 miles of driving by hydrogen each day?

Did you know that it is illegal to do that? Did you know that it is illegal to refuel your car with natural gas that comes to your house?

Wouldn't you like to see real alternatives to gasoline?

A 5% reduction in use, does that mean a 5% reduction in War?

Please contact your representatives and tell them that this transportation tax is killing America. We need to open up alternative fuels pronto. Because here comes $5 gas again.

Contact the reps, let them know that we need to allow refueling of cars at our home. That will create real competition for energy delivery...and will revive our economy.

Adjusting fuel standards are just adjusting the deck chairs on the titanic at this point. We will be out of oil in California 10 years after these cars are available.....

oy

[Julie]

Bravo, Gov. Schwarzennegger - that's something I never thought I'd say! Some people will complain like spoiled brats and choose ignore the hard truths of both oil imports and the climate crisis. But national CAFE standards based on the CA model ultimately will do tremendous good for our country and the planet. Today, I'm a little more hopeful about the future.

[George]

I wonder if Arnold took a private jet to Washington for this event? In light of the fact that California is in a financial crisis & we are voting on the emergency tax hikes today. That would be a bad joke on us Kaliforians...

[Pom Pom Girl]

So they are celebrating the death of hundreds of thousands of UAW jobs that this deal will achieve. Two guys who have never really worked at all or run a business are dictating economic polic puleeeeese.

[Jason]

Your state is broke and you are giving kudos for better gas mileage? Wow you guys on the left coast have your priorities all out of whack. If you want better gas mileage that's great, but don't come ask this Texan for a bailout if you go broke becasue of it. Lets start with a little fiscal sanity, and then we can go from there. Baby steps..