Detroit Free Press
Lawmaker sets up fight in House over fuel rules
Showdown with Dingell possible in energy debate
BY JUSTIN HYDE
July 11, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Detroit Free Press

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat and chief backer of tougher fuel-economy standards in the U.S. House, pledged for the first time Tuesday to make fuel economy part of the energy bills the House will consider later this month.

Supporters of Markey's proposal say they have more than enough votes to prevail should the bills reach the House floor, despite increased lobbying by automakers and Michigan lawmakers in favor of an alternative plan that sets less-stringent rules.

Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., had said his Energy and Commerce Committee would debate fuel-economy rules in September. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has declined to say whether she will allow Markey to add his bill on the floor, a move that would force a public showdown with Dingell.

"Now is the time for us to deal with it during this summer's energy debate," Markey said Tuesday. "My goal is to make sure the energy package contains strong fuel-economy language."

Democratic House leaders have not set a date for the debate over their energy bills, but have said they hoped to begin in the next few weeks. Because the bills so far don't contain fuel-economy provisions, Pelosi would have to allow fuel-economy amendments during the debate.

Markey's plan, which has 147 cosponsors in the House, would set fuel-economy standards of 35 miles per gallon by 2018, a tougher standard than the Senate's energy bill passed last month that calls for 35 m.p.g. by 2020.

Markey's proposal also would require 4% annual increases in fuel efficiency, a level Detroit automakers and Toyota Motor Co. have called unattainable.

Since their defeat in the Senate, the auto industry and its allies are pushing harder in the House. Automakers, the UAW and Dingell have lined up behind an alternative bill from Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., that would require fuel-economy standards in a range of 32 to 35 m.p.g. by 2022, with the final figures set by federal regulators.

In a letter to lawmakers Monday, the UAW said the Markey bill would force Detroit automakers to spend $86 billion to update their factories to make more fuel-efficient cars, while their Japanese competitors would spend only $28 billion.

"Because the Detroit-based auto companies are already experiencing severe financial difficulties and struggling with enormous retiree health care legacy costs, the imposition of these huge additional retooling costs would severely undermine their competitive position," the UAW said.

While automakers expect to win more support in the House than they had in the Senate -- thanks to Michigan's large delegation -- backers of Markey's plan said Tuesday that they had momentum on their side in getting the 218 votes needed for a majority.

Dan Becker, the Sierra Club's chief fuel-economy expert, said Markey's proposal had backing from a majority of House committee chairpersons and several conservative Democrats.

"If the votes happen, we'll win," Becker said.

Copyright © 2007 Detroit Free Press