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Emissions Standards - Clean Cars

Our Position: oppose
Bill Number: 5135-A
Sponsor:
Legislative Session: 2005

Prohibits the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) from spending any money over the next two years to adopt automobile emissions standards such as those being put in place in California. House Republicans drafted this amendment in response to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski announcing this spring that he would administratively adopt clean-car standards for Oregon over the next few years along the lines of those currently in the works in California and Washington state.

Status

In a shocking move, Senate budget negotiators after weeks of closed-door meetings gave their support for this amendment on July 26, which holds Oregon back from making progress on a key environmental and consumer issue. The DEQ budget has now passed both the Senate and House and heading for the Governor's desk

The amendment to the DEQ budget that is likely headed for the Governor's desk states: "Notwithstanding any other law, neither the Department of Environmental Quality nor the Environmental Quality Commission may expend any moneys for the biennium beginning July 1, 2005, to adopt or enforce rules that impose California auto emission standards on motor vehicles sold, leased or titled in Oregon."

The Governor has threatened to use his line-item veto to stop this amendment, and this may be the only way to stop this misguided spending prohibition from moving forward. The Governor will come under tremendous pressure to not use his veto, so showing your support by contacting him is very important right now.

More information

Background

The Oregon legislature is caving in to auto makers who are trying to stop states like Oregon from adopting clean car tail-pipe emissions standards. The auto industry has a history of balking against common sense regulations – like seat belts, catalytic converters, and air bags – and consistently overestimates the costs of compliance.

Clean car standards would reduce toxic and smog-forming emissions from passenger vehicles sold in our state after 2008, as well as global warming pollution. The clean car standards are a sensible, cost-effective way to ensure all new passenger vehicles sold in Oregon are among the cleanest in the nation, meeting tailpipe standards stronger than those set by the federal government. And because clean cars use less fuel, they save drivers money at the gas pump. Nine states, including California, Washington, and New York, have already adopted clean car standards – driving the market for cleaner cars and light trucks.

Oregon's Governor Ted Kulongoski announced this spring that he would administratively adopt clean-car standards for Oregon. In response, the Oregon House of Representatives, at the behest of the automobile industry, inserted langauge in the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) budget prohibiting money from being spent on adopting or enforcing California auto emissions standards.

In a shocking move, the Senate budget negotiators, after weeks of closed-door meetings, adopted this amendment, which holds Oregon back from making progress on a key environmental and consumer issue.

Please contact the Governor TODAY to stop this step backwards!