Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

The US Senate has killed the newly proposed CAFE standards which would have required US automakers to offer vehicles that averaged 36mpg by the year 2015. Instead the current standard of 27mpg set 13 years ago will remain. Also, light trucks and SUVs which are not subject to the standard will remain exempt.

That meager amount was too much for some senators. Specifically ardent critics were Trent Lott, Christopher Bond and Barbara Mikulski (different parties.) These senators professed such wisdom as \"this will make us all drive glorified golf carts\" and \"I dont see no geos in the congressional parking lot.\" Those are quotes from the debate, QUOTES from the admired, wise and obviously skilled debaters in the United States Senate.

Regardless of your political affiliation this ignorance makes no sense at all. Regardless of whether or not you understand the issues of global warming and ozone depletion (2 SEPARATE issues) this ignorance makes no sense at all. This just plain makes no sense.

Building cars and trucks that get better fuel economy is within the reach of current technology and will not put anyone in a \'golf cart\' or \'geo.\' Even large vehicles with all of the safety accoutrement\'s can get better mileage by using modern materials and design.

Better fuel economy makes us less dependent on foreign oil and fossil fuels as a whole. Less dependence means more freedom and a huge financial savings for this country. That IN ADDITION to the fact that it would help the air and other environmental standards across the country in a monumental way, etc, etc, etc.

America burns 25% of the worlds petroleum with 3% of population. 1 in 7 barrels of oil produced in the world is used in American automobiles (source NPR Morning Edition, yes, just the automobiles, that number is higher when considering other uses.)

This vote is a totally disingenuous effort by MOST of the Senate to court big business at the expense of the American people, the world environment and the American military. NOT reducing dependence puts all these entities at substantially greater risk.

For more info see the linked Fox News article. -->   Fox News New CAFE Standards Killed in Senate