Remember when California ruled that it would only accept cars that got over a certain MPG just six months ago or so? The Bush Administration made it illegal, and undid it, arguing that (as our dear Republicans have been for three decades, now) if car emissions were upped, it’d hurt the industry. Well, last I checked, we just handed the incompetent, short-sighted private-plane flying Big Three a $13.7 Billion loan to tied ’em over a few months until they needed another handout. So I’m glad Obama is allowing We the People to regulate our own air, despite what must be intense pressure from the fearful Auto fatcats.

Well, if California can regulate car emissions, Detroit will be forced to put out better, cleaner cars—and asthma will be reduced, our skies will clear somewhat and the earth’s warming might slow significantly. And We the Consumers will all go out and buy some green clean vehicles, everyone wins!

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Monday will direct federal regulators to move swiftly to grant California and 13 other states the right to set strict automobile emissions andfuel efficiency standards, two administration officials said Sunday evening.

The directive makes good on an Obama campaign pledge and marks a sharp reversal from Bush administration policy. Granting California and the other states the right to regulate tailpipe emissions is one of the most dramatic actions Mr. Obama can take to quickly put his stamp on environmental policy.

The presidential orders will require automobile manufacturers to begin producing and selling cars and trucks that get higher mileage than the national standard, and on a faster phase-in schedule. The auto companies had lobbied hard against the regulations and challenged them in court.

Mr. Obama will use the announcement of his latest directive to bolster the impression of a sharp break from the Bush era on all fronts. It follows his decisions last week to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, tighten limits on interrogation tactics by CIA officers, order plans to withdraw combat forces from Iraq and reverse Mr. Bush’s financing restrictions on groups that provide or discuss abortion overseas.

 

For the rest and for updates (this was just announced 30 mins ago), click here.