Cross posted from michiganliberal.com
Leave it to George Bush to bridge the longstanding gap between the United Auto Workers and environmental groups on the issue of vehicle emissions standards. Or at least I *think* that's what's happened. (More on this in a minute.)
For years, environmental groups have pushed for higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, trucks, and especially those behemoth SUVs that no one can afford to drive anymore. The reasons are all-too-obvious: reducing air pollution and dependence on foreign oil. The UAW, while initially supporting the creation of national fuel efficiency standards in the 1970s (known in wonk circles as Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency - or CAFE - standards) has opposed making them tougher. The reason? U.S. automakers now make most of their most effcient cars in Asia and Mexico. Most of the gas guzzlers are made here. The UAW fears that clamping down on SUVs would give the automakers an excuse to elminate more domestic auto industry jobs. This, in a sector that has already seen more than its share of pain over the past 30 years.
The CAFE issue is one that's vexed Democratic federal candidates in Michigan for years. Even people like Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, who can normally be counted as solid pro-environment legislators, split with the enviros on CAFE. In my brief run, I attempted to take a middle course on the issue, linking increases in fuel efficiency standards to changes in the trade agreements that has allowed so much of our auto production to go elsewhere. Obviously, it didn't get me anywhere (though in all honesty, I don't think my views on CAFE had much to do with anything) Anyway, the point is that CAFE is an issue most Democratic politicians in this state would rather just went away.
Now
along comes George Bush with a new scheme that would totally change how fuel efficiency standards for SUVs are administered - and not in a good way. Instead of requiring that auto companies have a "balance" of fuel efficient and non-fuel efficient "light trucks" (SUVs), Bush has come up with six categories with individual fuel efficiency standards for each type of "light truck" (based on the distance between the axles). The end result is that automakers who build big SUVs would no longer have to also offer more fuel-efficient SUVs. The auto companies would also be
encouraged to make their individual SUVs bigger, so they can fall into a less-stringent class. Even crazier is the fact that the largest of the large - Hummer H2s, Ford Excursion, along with some Chevy Suburbans remain exempt from CAFE altogether.
The Big 3 is trying to restrain their joy when talking about Bush's proposal. Incredibly, the auto execs still appear to be convinced that more SUV sales will reverse their ailing fortunes (check out
this May 2, 2005 Detroit News article). Indeed, there is scant evidence the Big 3 execs are paying any attention whatever to the fact that gas is poised to cross the $3 threshold for the first time.
The Sierra Club, along with every self-respecting environmental organization opposes Bush's plan. The UAW
has gone on record against abandoning "fleetwide" standards in favor of an approach based on size or weight - due to the fact that it could mean the jobs of the few American workers left who build small cars.
So it appears Mr. Bush has come up with a plan that both labor and enviros can both agree is bad news. I say "appears" because I
think this is the case. But in truth I'm not really sure. Search as I might around the Internet, I can find no reaction or comment whatsoever from the UAW on Bush's proposal. Why? Wouldn't it have been nice to have the leaders of the UAW and Sierra Club side by side at a press conference denouncing this thing? Or has the UAW gone over to the dark side? If anyone finds out, let me know. Hopefully, we aren't in the process of missing yet another good opportunity.