Republican governors to Bush: Pull over and let us pass

The federal gov't is blocking state efforts to fight climate change

Posted by David Roberts at 9:32 AM on 22 May 2007

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell (R) take to the pages of the Washington Post to send President Bush a simple message: "It's high time the federal government becomes our partner or gets out of the way."

At issue is the waiver Calif. and 11 other states need from the EPA to implement their new tailpipe-emissions standards. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court made it clear that California is perfectly within its rights to implement tougher-than-federal standards. All it needs is the waiver -- just like the dozens of waivers it's gotten from EPA in the past.

But the EPA is dragging its feet, and Arnie is getting pissed.

Tell me, in a PR battle between the Governator and The Decider, who's going to come out looking good? Is Bush really prepared to pile this final act of petulance onto the rubble of his historical legacy?

For story: Republican governors to Bush: Pull over and let us pass
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ok, but how does this work now?

This is a powerful op-ed, and the timing and placement are well done. I wonder who the ghost-writer was.

It would have been a bit more powerful, if they had speculated on the motives of the EPA and the Bushies for remaining so obstructively "in the way." Because the Bushies are beholden to Dick Cheney's oil-industry pals, who do not like the prospect of selling less gasoline? Because they are beholden to the automobile manufacturers, who do not want to be bothered with redesigning their production? But surely they realize that adapting now to Arnie's enlightened regime of higher tail-pipe emissions standards will be good for them in the long run?

Anyway, how does this message from Arnie and Jodi Rell work now? What kind of pressure does it apply? DC is right now preoccupied with the military funding bill and the immigration reform bill -- so is anyone going to pay attention to Arnie vs. the EPA?

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 11:53 AM on 22 May 2007

arnie

in retrospect, maybe it wasn't such a lousy idea to elect a bodybuilder governor...

by zackk at 5:15 PM on 22 May 2007

the Governator, hands down

Schwarzenegger is very good news. There's been a lot of talk, confusion and consternation about how to tackle climate change. What the world needs now is ~~love sw~~ somebody who can take charge and say "This is a problem. This is what we have to do." If he does it wearing terminator shades and a leather jacket, so much the better.

I'm not saying we know exactly what to do, but as everyone keeps saying, the technology is here or on the point of being ready. People would really respond if someone other than Amory Lovins were to give the issue clarity: put all the pieces in order, and chart a plausible course to a fossil-free future.

I don't know Arnie's actual record very well, but he seems to be someone that people trust, and has a good deal of bi-partisan cred. When he does stuff like this (the letter), he really comes off as taking action on the basis of reason and pragmatism--a breath of fresh air compared to the usual demagogic bickering that seems to be monopolizing American political discourse currently, and global warming in particular.

by Jones at 6:30 PM on 22 May 2007

Good editorial, but

I'm surprised the Governator didn't use the op-ed piece as an opportunity to criticize the popular wisdom in Washington, as he did at a symposium last Friday, attacking ethanol tariffs and subsidies. Perhaps he and Gov. Rell thought doing so would dilute their basic message.

These are only my personal opinions.

by Ron Steenblik at 6:43 PM on 22 May 2007

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