SEN. REID: "We raised the fuel efficiency of automobiles"
[Excerpt from PoliticsTV's June 22, 2007 interview]PoliticsTV: Senator, the energy bill passed the Senate on Thursday, but without the proposed tax increases for oil companies. How do both the victory and the setback impact the push for greater energy efficiency?
Sen. Harry Reid: The victory was significant, we're so happy we're able to pass that. For the first time in 25 years we raised the fuel efficiency of automobiles. The automobile industry has been fighting this, saying that if this raise in efficiency standards came to be, we would love jobs, it would close plants, they would lose market share. Well, that's all happened. Simply, they're not believable anymore, and that's why the Senate, by a very nice margin, vote to increase CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards on cars and trucks - they will both be 35 miles a gallon in the next few years - very important legislation.
Now, on the other part of the legislationthat the Republicans stopped, in the next ten years, oil companies will make a trillion dollars in profits. This bill to allow more fuel efficiency, to allow renewable fuels, would have cost 34 billion dollars. 34 billion out of a trillion seems the least that the oil companies could do to contribute to solar, to wind, to geothermal production of energy. But they were able to stop it because this Congress has once again responded to big oil and to the automobile manufacturers and not to the American people.
I understand how Congress works and have been there to see it in action. It's two different ideas fighting back and forth until one finally gives a little. I love how now these fuel effeciant cars are 5-10(depending on car)k more than a regualar car and it will take 5 yrs to make up for the gave you save. Wonderful, if our local govt leaders would make our cities more walk/bike friendly we wounldnot have to drive.
toastmaster2k(April 22, 2008 at 10:00 pm)
35mi/gal = nothing
zloben9000(January 30, 2008 at 6:08 pm)
this PLANET is a private corporation.
and I OWN IT :-)
jammasterjayfan(January 21, 2008 at 5:34 pm)
Who Cares Harry Reid, you are stupid.Vote Ron Paul.
truthadvocate(December 24, 2007 at 7:13 am)
Thank you Harry for putting the poor and middle class at risk. Heavier cars save thousands of lives every year. However, they are less fuel-efficient. Your increased regulations force auto makers to limit production and raise the cost of safer cars so only the wealthy can be safe, while the poor and middle class are forced to buy the death traps that are slightly more fuel efficient. Once again you screw the middle class you claim to protect.
wiskawind(December 20, 2007 at 5:40 pm)
These 7 voted to kill Kucinich's bill on 11/6 to impeach Cheney, so they need to CHANGE their positions and fulfill their oath of office to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign AND domestic: Howard Berman (CA-28), Artur Davis (AL-07), William Delahunt (MA-10), Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Linda Sanchez (CA-39), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20).Send emails, write letters, make phone calls; Put the pressure on for IMPEACHMENT!
Goochigoop(December 12, 2007 at 4:45 am)
Power to Senator Harry Reid. 35 miles per gallon isnt much but it's a start!
It's sad to see opposition from big oil as they hold the biggest key to alternative fuels.
I just hope the 300 million per gallon Hybrid Aptera will change it all in 2009. GOOO green energy! :)
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d0rkiishchris(August 17, 2007 at 1:32 am)
You don't think that in some sort of little crazy idea that the oil companies and automobile companies pass love notes conversing in less efficient cars equals more money for both of them. Less efficient cars equals more money for big oil, and they also mean they are cheaper to make because theres no technology in them. A regular gasoline engine could be made wayyy more efficient than what we have these days. But don't expect to see that anytime soon.
LatteLiberal(August 11, 2007 at 12:41 am)
Stop lying to America you stupid liberals! Fuel economy doesnt work! Hybrids dont work, solar panels dont work and this guy wants THIRTY FIVE MILES PER GALLON? Are you people crazy? Nobody is going to drive a golf cart and live in a cave! NO PATRIOTIC AMERICAN WILL TOLERATE THIS! In JESUS NAME I PRAY!
Crickettedog(August 10, 2007 at 9:05 pm)
@retrop75: Why don't you learn how your government functions? If you had any idea how your government functions you wouldn't post a stupid message like you did. Senator Harry Reid is not a dictator like Bush. Senator Reid abides by the rules of the Senate. He knows all about the rule of law. You show your stupidity by implying that you know about the history of the Democratic Party. You know nothing about how Congress functions.
retrop75(August 4, 2007 at 5:19 pm)
Whoopdee doo Harry. Congrats on taking it up the ass from Bush on wiretaps. Harry Reid is the biggest disappointment in Democratic party history. PUSSY.
