Levin's Fuel Economy Mandate Builds Support

Detroit auto executives went to Capitol Hill Wednesday to urge undecided lawmakers to support Sen. Carl Levins compromise fuel economy proposal that would raise fuel economy standards but not as drastically as a bill on the Senate floor.

Troy Clarke, the president of General Motors Corp.'s North America unit, and Beth Lowery, the companys vice president for energy policy, are seeing more than a dozen senators and representatives in meetings.

Meanwhile, Sue Cischke, the Ford Motor Co. senior vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering, was to meet with about a half-dozen legislators. The meetings include some with key lawmakers who could be significant to Fords effort to beat back a Senate energy bill that includes a Commerce Committee proposal. It would increase the average fuel economy mandates 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon for cars and trucks combined by 2020, with four percent annual increases through 2030. The automakers said that such a dramatic increase would cost them billions.

Alan Reuther, the United Auto Workers' chief lobbyist, was earlier quoted saying: "I believe the Big Three will endorse the Levin bill because it has CAFE increases that are economically feasible. The UAW is backing Levin's proposal.

The domestic auto executives, along with some from foreign automakers who have also been in the previous meetings, were sending the message that a compromise proposal authored by Michigan Democrat Levin and Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., is achievable. While the language is still being finalized, the compromise bill is expected to call for raising standards to 36 mpg for cars by 2022 and 30 mpg for trucks by 2025.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents domestic automakers and the Toyota Motor Corp. among others, intends to endorse the compromise bill as soon as it is released. "We are going to come out in support of the Levin bill," Toyota spokeswoman Martha Voss said last Wednesday. "It's not that one bill is easy and a slam dunk. They are both challenging. The Levin bill is a more reasonable approach."

The alliance has spent $1 million over ad campaigns in May. The ads, aimed at opposing the Senate proposal bill, were disseminated in eleven states. The alliance is also considering another campaign to back the Levin compromise bill. Cischke said that all automakers in the alliance back the Levin bill and no automaker supported the Senate energy bill. "Nobody can meet those targets right now," she said. "We all have the same technology tool kit."

The head of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Daniel Inouye, said that he was open to an alternative. "I have told Sen. Levin that we urgently need to see the language of his alternative," Inouye said.

On Wednesday, nearly a dozen senators held a press conference to condemn the domestic automakers. Detroit automakers are "the ostrich with their heads in the sand," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the lead sponsor of the Senate fuel economy increase. "The fact of the matter is that Detroit has done nothing about mileage efficiency for the past 20 years and the time has come."

Levin's proposal was derailed by at least a day as he hammered out language. He said that the automakers were supportive. "They think they can do it and survive with it." One U.S. auto official said that automakers cannot stop an increase in fuel economy standards and had supported Levin's bill. He added some in Congress "think we're either incompetent, dishonest or lazy and I'm not sure which of those I want to be."

Next week, the mounting heat of fuel mandates will intensify. Take a grip on the Honda door handle to manage a bumpy and heated journey.

Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time.You can also visit Honda door handle for more information.

Jewelry Making Silver Sterling
3 Boston Party Ship Tea
California Striped Bass Fishing
Wholesale Body Jewelry
Favorite Flower Painting
Etiquette Business Card Mba
Business Christmas Corporate Gift Internet
Wisconsin Badger Football
Policy Public Television Violence
Jimmy Layout Myspace Page
Project Management Risk
Advance Cash Fax No Ohio
Nebraska Malignant Mesathelioma Litigation
10 Mtv Music Top Video
Vending Machine Label
Apartment Corporate Search Short Term Townhouse
Costume Fairy Halloween Teen
Seattle Prudential Real Estate
Woman Tennis
Gourmet Chocolate Dessert
White Wooden Jewelry Box
Stanley Meyer
Flight
Polar Explorer
106 Black Entertainment Park Television
How To Oil Paint Dvd
Company Investments
Thunderbird Hotel Resort
As Dress Halloween Woman
Al Birmingham Club In Night
Certificate Chicago Gift Hotel
Professional Dog Training School
Pilgrim Boy Costume
Baseball Check League Major
Package Spa Texas Vacation
Northern Light Theater Pub
2007 Holiday Nyse
04 Birthday Pool
2006 Best Learning Toy
3 Agency Credit Personal Report
Income Tax Estimate
Nike Tarj Sun Glasses
Tuscan Kitchen Furniture
1 Change Mobil Oil
Financial Help Immediate
10 Gige
Total Gym Pilates Exercise
Alberta Travel
Living
Texas Saltwater Fishing Guide
Adhd Careers
0 Gauge Earring
2007 Picture Silverado Spy
Career Counseling New York
Apartment Downtown Montreal Rent
Bed And Breakfast Business For Sale
Sea
West Texas Rural Counties Risk Management Pool
City National Bank Mineral Well
Mac Dvd Burning Software
100 Dating Free Percent
Buy Junk Yard Car
Center Diet La Loss Weight
Breakfast Club Dvd Hd
Boat Sail Used Wooden
W
Business Plan Sample Clothing Fashion
1000 Hotel Seattle
0f America Bank Banking Online
Complete Development Guide Psychic
Orthopedic Doctor New York
Auto Body Repair Paint Dallas
Philippine Costume Rental
Loseweight Diet
Lyric Sing Soft Something
Bath Bird Bird
Meal Planner Vegetarian
Illinois Real Estate Contract
1 Powershot Pro
Bank Farmer National
Flowers
Snl Celebrity Jeopardy Skits
National Association Of Financial And Estate Planning
Bulge Cervical Disc
1 800 Dentists
Christmas Tree Shop Orange Ct
100 Cotton Dress Shirt
13 Crystal Mystery Skull
Fishing Reel Cleaning
Ceiling Water Damage
Social Tea History
Holidays
2006 City City Conference Crystal Crystal Doubletree Va
John Malcovich
Cheap Flights To America
Cafe
Post Office Philadelphia Pa
Votive Lamp
Timeshare Scam
Geometrical Constructions
101 Cafe Restaurant
Free Internet Phone Services
Wholesale Mini Bikes
Digital Camera Web Camera
Pubic Hair Style For Woman
Irish Sea
Cosmetic Dentist Colorado
Fort Walton Beach Florida Lodging
1 Pint
Competition Dance Power Star
0 Holds Barred