House "killing" CAFE increase is jujitsu

The House removed CAFE increases from the energy bill. While the natural inclination among the auto workers who would be harmed most by the CAFE increase is jubilance, a closer look at the issue would suggest a very strong note of caution. The CAFE increases still remain in the Senate bill and the Democratic leadership which will appoint the conference committee is still very strongly pro-CAFE. Most likely, this is the typical two-faced political jujitsu that Washington is famous for and disgusts Americans so deeply: this gives Democrats like Rep. Dingell who represent districts where auto workers live the opportunity to save face with their constituents while passing the CAFE increases they secretly support. Rep. Dingell won't have to commit to a public spectacle of standing up to the Democratic powers, he gets to claim victory in removing CAFE, and will still get the CAFE increases he's personally committed to seeing.

House puts off tougher fuel rules
The Detroit News

WASHINGTON -- House leaders decided Wednesday to put off a potentially divisive fight over auto fuel-economy rules, leaving until September the debate over how high a hurdle they'll set for the embattled domestic carmakers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said late Wednesday that the House will not consider competing proposals to change Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards when the House takes up a comprehensive energy bill this week. The House is expected to vote on the package this week.

The decision means the Big 3 automakers have dodged, for now, passage of a tough set of CAFE standards proposed by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., which would have boosted vehicle mileage to 35 miles per gallon by 2019. It has wide support among House Democrats, including Pelosi.

Markey agreed to withdraw his proposal, offered as an amendment to the energy bill, as did Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., who had offered a weaker set of mileage standards favored by the auto industry.

Despite the reprieve, it is unclear whether Wednesday's decision to delay the debate is good news, in the long run, for the Big 3. It's possible the issue won't be resolved until a House-Senate conference committee meets to iron out differences between the competing versions of the bill. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, who generally favor tougher standards, will appoint members of the conference committee.