Carmakers won't yield to R.I. emissions standards
6:15 PM Wed, Dec 10, 2008 | Permalink
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By Peter B. Lord Chrysler and General Motors, after pledging to Congress that they will make greener cars if they get a government bailout, nevertheless filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island today to allow them to continue appealing Rhode Island's effort to impose stricter emission standards. Rhode Island was trying to impose California's tailpipe standards, which would cut greenhouse gas emissions for new cars and light trucks by 30 percent by 2016. The automakers say they prefer to comply with one national standard, so they've been fighting the state's efforts in federal court. Senior U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres dismissed the automakers' suit two weeks ago, saying that they lost similar lawsuits in other states and any further litigation would be a waste of court resources. The automakers, in briefs filed today against W. Michael Sullivan, director of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, argue they should have the right to argue the merits of their case in court. Cynthia Giles, director of the Rhode Island Advocacy Center of the Conservation Law Foundation, a party to the case, called the automakers' timing incredible. "The automakers are telling Congress that they are committed to cleaning up emissions from automobiles at the same time they continue to aggressively challenge the state standards to do just that." 
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It only makes sense to have a National standard for auto emmissions. Regionalism is nonsensical given the vast Interstate Highway system and the mobility of the population. What does RI propose to do- have the Seekonk and Rehoboth commuters walk in from the state line?
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This takes such incredible nerve and audacity on the carmakers part - plz let them spin - they are paying $500/hour to attorneys - racking up over 3 million in legal fees in RI alone to fight the tailpipe standards - now taxpayers will bail them out and they will use taxpayer money to fight - you got it - taxpayers. How fast can we run them off a cliff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The R.I. emissions scheme is (like most of the ideas that come out of our statehouse) corrupt and geared to enhance state revenue regardless of emissions. It is simply another dirty little Rhode Island hold up that can be gotten around if you know who to bribe.
These idiots and thieves that we keep electing have used the money that we have overpaid them for taxes to buy off their cronies and now they have to resort to sending the police out to collect more money for them. "Cleaning up emissions" is just a transparent excuse.
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