Car Lobbyists Try to Mow Down California Exhaust Bill

Posted: 28-Jun-2002; Updated: 11-Jan-2005

"Warning! I'm scared to death and you should be too," proclaims the headline of one print ad of a media campaign paid for the California Car Motors Dealers Association, referring to the new California legislation that would curb greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. "Supporters of this bill don't want you driving SUVs, pickups and minivans," alleges the ad, and the group's web site declares the measure would give the California Resources Board "a blank check to decide what you drive and how many miles you drive."

"These are outrageous claims," says Environmental Defense attorney Jim Marston. "The automobile industry is spending several millions of dollars on a misinformation campaign to defeat this bill." In fact, amendments to the bill (which has passed both the State Senate and Assembly and is now back in the Assembly awaiting concurrence on amendments adopted in the Senate) "explicitly prohibit restrictions on vehicle miles traveled and state that classes of vehicles cannot be outlawed," says Environmental Defense regional director Tom Graff.

Environmental Defense is working hard to help get the measure passed -- and to counter the auto industry's well-funded smear campaign. "This legislation represents an exceptional opportunity to begin to tackle the problem of global warming," says economist and energy expert Nancy Ryan. "Because California is the only state that is permitted to implement stricter pollution controls under the Clean Air Act," explains Ryan, "it is in a unique position to influence automakers and pave the way for other states to follow. This measure was drafted to allow maximum flexibility for compliance. It opens the door to a range of options like the cap-and-trade mechanisms we've used in other areas and it builds in plenty of lead time for automakers to comply by 2009."

For his part, Marston is mobilizing all the forces he can to push the bill forward. He is working closely with Senator John McCain (R-AZ), who has wholeheartedly endorsed the measure. Marston is also tapping into our online resource Action Network to get the message out, soliciting letters to California Governor Gray Davis, and our Clean Car Campaign will deliver 13, 389 pledges to automakers next week. "This is an important fight we intend to win!" says Marston.

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