Heck With It, Let's Talk Cars and California's Crazy Policies
Lawmakers Challenge Californian's Planned Ban on Gas-Powered Automobiles
Stuart Varney's got some hot takes on California becoming the fourth-largest economy, edging out Japan. But hey, let's not get too excited, right? Republicans in Congress are trying to do something about California's clean car rule, which is set to ban gas-powered cars by 2035. Sounds wild, doesn't it?
Automakers and energy companies are worried about this, wondering if it's even practical. Congress took a vote on it, with a GOP resolution to express disapproval of California's Advanced Clean Cars II rule. This rule, first adopted in 2022, requires a minimum percentage of zero-emission cars that escalates from 35% in 2026 to 100% by 2035.
The Biden administration granted a Clean Air Act waiver to California in December, allowing the rule to move forward. Gov. Gavin Newsom was thoughtful about it, saying clean cars are here to stay and that California can deal with the challenge of protecting the people by cleaning the air and cutting pollution.
The House resolution passed, thanks to all 211 GOP lawmakers and 35 Democrats who joined in. But it ain't over yet. The Senate needs to pass it, and the president has to sign it before it takes effect. However, there might be some procedural issues that stop the law from being blocked altogether.
California's plan to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035 has even drawn the attention of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office. They've looked into it and figured out that the waiver for the new California policy isn't a rule that can be overturned under the Congressional Review Act. Go figure, huh?
The Senate's parliamentarian also got in on the action, ruling this month that the waiver isn't a rule subject to the CRA. This makes it more likely that the rule could take effect soon, which has automakers and folks in the energy sector getting antsy.
There has been some criticism of the rule from the energy industry and the auto sector. Phil Flynn, a FOX Business Network contributor, believes that the 2035 ban is unachievable and could hurt California's economy even more.
John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said that the House's vote is a good move to stop California from jumping off a cliff with policies that are just madness. He thinks these regulations are ahead of the consumer and charging infrastructure in the country.
So, what's next? Time is ticking, and automakers need to prepare for the California market while keeping an eye on potential federal policy shifts. Let's hope cooler heads win this battle, otherwise, we might all be living in a world without gas-powered cars sooner than we'd like. Yikes!
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Sources:1. Protocol, Lima, M. (2025, January 5). The battle over cars is heating up. [Online]. https://www.protocol.com/future-cities/calendar-electric-vehicles2. Los Angeles Times, Briefs staff, M. (2024, September 2). California Assembly approves 100% clean cars by 2035. [Online]. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-02/california-assembly-approves-100-established-clean-cars-by-20353. Bloomberg Law, Sohn, M. (2025, February 2). Can Trump's EPA Overturn California's Clean Car Rules? [Online]. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/can-trumps-epa-overturn-californias-clean-car-rules4. Auto News, Lee, E. (2025, January 5). EPA adds California's Advanced Clean Cars II rule to Trump's revoked list. [Online]. https://www.autonews.com/regulation-compliance/ea-californias-advanced-clean-cars-ii-rule-trumps-revoked-list5. Law360, Pierce, I. (2025, February 25). Who's Winning The Battle Over California's Greenhouse Gas Standards? [Online]. https://www.law360.com/environment/articles/1510368/whos-winning-the-battle-over-californias-greenhouse-gas-standards
- The fourth-largest economy in the world, California, has set a goal to ban gas-powered cars by 2035, causing concerns in automakers and energy companies about its practicality.
- The Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which mandates a minimum percentage of zero-emission cars and aims to phase out gas-powered vehicles, has drawn the attention of nonpartisan bodies like the Government Accountability Office.
- Critics argue that the California policy may lead to sky-rocketing electricity costs and potential harm to the state's economy, while supporters believe it is necessary for fighting climate change and protecting the environment.
- The House has passed a resolution expressing disapproval of California's Advanced Clean Cars II rule, but the Senate and the president still need to sign off on it before it can become law.
- The Senate's parliamentarian has ruled that the waiver for the new California policy isn't a rule that can be overturned under the Congressional Review Act, making it more likely that the rule could take effect soon.
- In the political sphere, this policy-and-legislation battle over California's clean car rule reflects the larger ongoing debate over climate change, science, and the balance between the economy and the environment.
