Tuesday, January 27, 2009
News / Clout City The Illinois Emissions Battle
Posted by Mick Dumke on Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Count Illinois as one of the states that’s all but certain to move toward tighter restrictions on auto emissions now that the White House is open to them.
State reps Julie Hamos and Elaine Nekritz, who both represent north suburban districts, said in interviews today that they’ll renew their push for tougher emission standards sometime in the coming weeks. Both were chief sponsors of an emissions bill that opponents thwarted in the last legislative session after arguing it would kill jobs and invite lawsuits.
“It was great news to hear at 5:30 this morning," Hamos said on Monday. “It’s exciting. This issue has mostly been pushed by states on the west and east coasts, so we could help bring it to the middle of the country.”
Monday morning President Obama asked EPA officials to review California’s request to impose stricter emissions standards than those federal law currently requires. If, as expected, the administration reverses a Bush administration ruling and gives California the green light, other states will follow with their own new curbs. More than a dozen have already passed laws authorizing tougher rules, and several more, including Illinois, have debated them.
Cars are responsible for more than 15 percent of the earth-warming greenhouse gases produced in the United States and a major source of dangerous air pollution. But automakers and their congressional allies greeted Obama’s move with nervousness and skepticism, arguing that now isn’t the time to burden them with new restrictions. Nekritz said she expects the same opposition in the General Assembly.
“It’s actually a fascinating philosophical debate: everybody’s agreeing we need to do something, but now we’re having a fight over how to do it,” she said. “Some people say we can’t afford to do it now. I agree that it may be painful for a while, but we’ll benefit from it down the road.”
Several factors should help their cause. Opponents will obviously have a tougher time arguing that the state is likely to get entangled in lawsuits with the federal government now that the feds have switched sides. Just weeks from receiving government assistance, the car companies aren’t in the best position to make demands. And while the next spike in gas—and there will be one—is likely to prompt another cry for efficient cars, Hamos said the automakers have already stated that they won’t comply with tougher regulations if they don’t have to.
“If we don’t pass this soon we’re going to miss out on those cars,” she said. “We’re going to push very hard to get this through this year.”
Comments (12)
Showing 1-12 of 12
"the automakers have already stated that they won’t comply with tougher regulations if they don’t have to. "... isn't that why American car companies have been losing sales to Toyota, Honda, and various other car manufacturers? You think they'd be embracing the idea of setting themselves up for progression by moving into the future of car manufacturing. Just a thought.
like
dislike
I am glad to see Huberman operating the public schools. What the CPS needs is someone who is willing to make some unpopular choices, close some schools, and hopefully lessen the stanglehold the shameless teachers union has on the schools. In what other job do you get tenure after 3 years? As an outsider it will be easier for Huberman to do these necessary things.
“If we don’t pass this soon we’re going to miss out on those cars,†Why? If you want one really bad, why not just buy one? Why do we need a group of people in Springfield to tell us what cars to buy? JBP
I love this "But automakers and their congressional allies greeted Obama’s move with nervousness and skepticism, arguing that now isn’t the time to burden them with new restrictions." It's true that the time was about 20 years ago, but of course the automakers fought that tooth and nail (see "Who Killed the Electric Car" for further proof of insanity), so better late than never. And John, since we have an auto industry receiving billions in bailout funding, I think they clearly DO need people to tell them how to run their business/which cars people will buy. And some food for thought - American cars are so pathetic on fuel economy that we can't even sell the vast majority of them in CHINA.
Will we pass laws regarding smoke free public places,the same should apply to vehicles. Also, Ron Huberman is a disgusting hack,whose bring no value to the CPS. He will probabily fire a lot of teachers and then move on. A loyal servant and brown noser for Daley's Machine
Ronnie Huberman is good at one thing. Looking Good on Camera. As HEADMAN of Emergency Management , Chicago was given low marks by Homeland Security. As HEADMAN for Mayor Daley, he fired City Worker John Whirity for Ghost Pay Rolling, only to rehire him one year later.As HEADMAN of the CTA, he did nothing but raise the rates for a mismanaged excuse for public transportation!!Now he will be HEADMAN at the Schools? Watch and see him work his magic on acting like he is doing something , but in reality doing NOTHING!!!
Ronnie Huberman is good at one thing. Looking Good on Camera. As HEADMAN of Emergency Management , Chicago was given low marks by Homeland Security. As HEADMAN for Mayor Daley, he fired City Worker John Whirity for Ghost Pay Rolling, only to rehire him one year later.As HEADMAN of the CTA, he did nothing but raise the rates for a mismanaged excuse for public transportation!!Now he will be HEADMAN at the Schools? Watch and see him work his magic on acting like he is doing something , but in reality doing NOTHING!!!
I don't know what to make of this. Has Mayor Daley expressed an opinion? If so I'm agreeing with him.
Bensenville needs a guy like Ron Huberman to get things in order. Mayor Geils is a loser and the roads are not salted. Level the houses so my jet can land.
Skeptic, Hybrid car sales dropped around 33% in December. Maybe nobody wants to buy one? Shouldn't the customers have some voice in the decision of what cars to buy? Our illustrious representatives in Springfield have a terrible track record on a number of issues, why should the voters give them any more authority as to car purchases? JBP
Latest in Bleader
-
More Chi Sounds from Face Melt
A compilation showcasing local experimental beat makers
- Feb 6, 2012
-
Movie life in Chicago: managing the New 400
An interview with some of the staff of Rogers Park's New 400 movie theater
- Feb 6, 2012
-
Jerked: Heron Valley Jerk Chicken
A Roseland jerk shack does chicken right
- Feb 6, 2012
- More »
Author Archives
-
The game's over for Joe Pa
What the real issue is in the Joe Paterno/Penn State scandal.
- Nov 9, 2011
-
Alderman Ed Burke acknowledges the existence of a mere mortal
The finance committee chairman marches into City Council
- Jan 26, 2012
-
Former police chief blasts pot busts
How ex-superintendent Jody Weis would like to see pot arrests reformed
- Jan 6, 2012
- More »
