how bad does it have to get?

are they nuts? the price of oil has almost tripled, and the most they can agree to do is "study" raising the CAFE standard?? we should have raised the standards back in the 70s.


Senate rejects auto fuel rules, delays energy vote

By Chris Baltimore and Tom Doggett
Thu Jun 23,10:00 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate rejected a Democratic plan to require better mileage for cars and gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles on Thursday but put off a final vote on energy legislation until next week.

Lawmakers wrapped up debate on the bill late on Thursday, hours after U.S. crude oil prices soared to a new record high of $60 a barrel.
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The Senate rejected 67-28 a plan by Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois to boost the fuel economy of passenger cars to 40 miles per gallon by 2016, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to 27.5 miles per gallon.

Gasoline demand accounts for about two of every five barrels of oil consumed in the United States, but neither the Senate bill nor a version passed by the House of Representatives in April moves to improve corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE standards.

The White House opposes legislative CAFE mandates on the grounds that they could impact jobs and vehicle safety.

The massive bill to overhaul U.S. energy policy stretches more than 700 pages and includes $14.1 billion in tax breaks and incentives to boost domestic production of oil, natural gas, coal and other energy sources.

Lawmakers approved 64-31 a less stringent CAFE amendment sponsored by Republican Christopher Bond of Missouri and Democrat Carl Levin of Michigan that requires the government to study standards and raise them as fast as technology allows.
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