The LuLac Edition #4,140, September 25th, 2019

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our “Write On Wednesday” logo.

This week we look to the Editorial Board of Times Shamrock for their take on the Trump policy on the environmental standards..

PREVENT TRUMP’S TOXIC POLICY EMISSIONS

Having increased the cost of domestically manufactured vehicles through ill-considered tariffs on foreign metals, President Donald Trump has moved to ensure that drivers of those vehicles spend as much as possible on fuel while producing more pollution than necessary.
In the process, he has thumbed his nose at the constitutional principle of federalism.
Trump announced Wednesday that the administration would eliminate the 50-year-old waiver under which California has set vehicle mileage standards tougher than federal standards. Many other states also use those standards, with which the auto industry complies due to the size of the massive California market.
The EPA administrator got it exactly backwards in claiming that California violates federalism with higher-than-federal standards. Since the beginning of environmental regulation, the federal government has set minimum standards that all states must enforce, while allowing states to exceed those standards. That is federalism in practice.
The auto industry itself supports the higher California standards because it is a global industry. Vehicles that meet California standards also meet tough standards in countries that mandate low emissions.
Incredibly, the Trump administration has threatened to investigate auto manufacturers for conspiracy if they continue to work with California to meet higher standards.
The California waiver has had broad support from presidents and members of Congress from both parties. Congress should intervene now to prevent Trump’s toxic policy emissions.