Lawmakers applaud President Obama's actions on auto emissions
News that President Barack Obama has ordered federal officials to reconsider tougher auto emission standards as proposed by some states has Minnesota lawmakers expressing approval.
“President Obama has moved swiftly to make a clean break with a Bush Administration policy that benefited the oil industry at the expense of consumers,” opined Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, who has carried a vehicle emission bill in the House.
“I am glad he has opened the door for Minnesotans to adopt a vehicle emissions standard that will save Minnesota consumers more than $260 million by 2025,” she said in a Clean Energy Minnesota press release.
“This decision paves the way for the Minnesota Legislature and the Governor to adopt this money-saving standard,” said Hortman.
Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, echoed the sentiments.
“I applaud President Obama for making good on his pledge to allow states to adopt these Clean Car standards” said Marty.
“Now, we need to act quickly to adopt these standards in Minnesota,” he said.
The Minnesota Auto Dealers Association (MADA) while “embracing” the idea of providing more fuel-efficient automobiles, requested that the president step back from the waiver request from California.
“The Obama Administration and Congress have all the tools they need to require the nation’s automobile fleet to continue to improve its overall fuel efficiency, and create a single national standard,” said Scott Lambert, Executive Vice President of MADA, in press release.
