John AND Debbie Dingell beaten in 2-day period. Wow

by: David Boyle

Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 21:00:14 PM EST

    After these Dingell dual disasters, Michigan can hopefully be persuaded to get new leadership faster (in the 15th District Congressperson position and the Michigan DNC Committeeperson position), shed the corruption, and get out of its mess faster. Sail on!!

Nancy + Arnie terminate Dingell's preemption perversity

by: David Boyle

Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 23:53:03 PM EST

    ...The package nearly fell apart this week when Mr. Dingell insisted on leaving sole authority to regulate automobile mileage standards with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an arm of the Transportation Department. That would have weakened the power of the Environmental Protection Agency and the states, led by California, to regulate auto emissions of carbon dioxide, which are in large measure a function of the amount of fuel burned.
    Federal court rulings this year have decided this so-called pre-emption issue in favor of the E.P.A. and the states, decisions that Mr. Dingell hoped to undo by Congressional action. ...
    The authority of the E.P.A. to regulate tailpipe emissions and the right of California and other states to set their own, higher standards were considered deal-breakers by Ms. Pelosi and her fellow California Democrat, Senator Dianne Feinstein. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican governor of California, weighed in late in the week to tell negotiators that he would oppose the bill if the [sic] Mr. Dingell's preemption language stayed in.
    Mrs. Pelosi and Democratic leaders in the Senate rejected Mr. Dingell's preemption effort, but softened the blow by agreeing to allow the car companies to retain a credit for vehicles capable of running on a blend of gasoline and ethanol. That credit was set to expire in 2008 but now will begin to decline in 2014 and be eliminated entirely by 2020. ...

    (For some background, see ye previous workes of mine hand, 9th Circuit slaps Detroyota on truck CAFE standards and Pelosi preps Dingell for retirement, sidelines him on CAFE standards.)

    Fine work Nancy! I guess you found some use for crazy Arnie after all...

9th Circuit slaps Detroyota on truck CAFE standards

by: David Boyle

Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 15:42:46 PM EST

  The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals...has ruled in favor of California's lawsuit against federal mileage standards (California v. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 06-72317). The court issued a 90-page opinion that strikes down recently-implemented CAFE standards for light-duty trucks (a category that includes SUVs and minivans) on several grounds, including the failure to take global warming into account. ...
  Commenting on the decision Attorney General [Jerry] Brown [of California] said, "This decision sends a clear message that the Congress must get serious about combating dangerous foreign oil dependency and global warming. This is a major victory and a stunning rebuke to the Bush administration and its failed energy policies." ...
  Brown's press release also links today's news to the ongoing national debate over CAFE standards, highlighting a letter that he wrote last week to congressional leaders asking them to ensure that sorely-needed fuel economy improvements do not preempt California's emissions standards (as some have attempted in the recent past). That letter was signed by 16 other states, and was directed at the proposed Hill-Terry amendment to the energy bill, which allows for a more moderate increase in efficiency and would expressly preempt state efforts.
  Hill-Terry, by the way, is being supported by an expensive lobbying campaign bankrolled by the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers (spotlighted by the National Resources Defense Council's ongoing "How Green Is Toyota?" campaign), which also filed an amicus brief on behalf of NHTSA in this case and is fighting to preempt California's standards in federal district courts.

  So, a congressman I shan't name fully, call him Ding-ll, is rolling in the hay with

1) George W. Bush,

2) Toyota,

and of course

3) a bunch of domestic polluter corporations in his congressional district.

  ...Who is available to primary him again? Feel free to suggest.....

Pelosi preps Dingell for retirement, sidelines him on CAFE standards

by: David Boyle

Mon Oct 15, 2007 at 03:27:56 AM EDT

  Rep. John Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is disappointed a House-Senate committee won't tackle legislation to improve the fuel economy of the nation's vehicles.
  Instead, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has chosen Democratic leaders to write an energy bill -- which would include provisions on fuel economy -- behind closed doors, rather than through a conference committee of House and Senate negotiators. She cited Senate Republican opposition to appointing members.
  "We cannot have a situation where if they don't give us a conference, we don't have a bill," Pelosi said. "With or without a conference, we will proceed." ...
  Dingell wouldn't divulge whether he would mount an effort to kill an energy bill that was too harsh on automakers. "I'm not foreclosing any option," he said. "I don't make the jungle. I just live there." ...

  No, he does make the jungle. Consistently. And now he is reaping the unpleasant fruits of that, though less unpleasant than the deaths that Katrina victims had to suffer, maybe because of global warming (with effects such as increased hurricane damage...) partially caused by Detroit automakers' failure to make better cars--a failure Dingell has been the chief legislative enabler for, for decades.

  Directly or indirectly, Speaker Pelosi is preparing the way for Dingell's "transition out of power"; and that's a good thing, too. Feel free to suggest primary opponents for him beyond those already suggested here.

Who should primary Dingell? --Hieftje, Kolb, or Rivers? Vote

by: David Boyle

Mon Sep 10, 2007 at 02:25:58 AM EDT

  Suggest your own, but here are three options:

1) John Hieftje, Democratic mayor of Ann Arbor;

2) Chris Kolb, former Democratic state representative from Ann Arbor (53rd District);

3) Lynn Rivers, former Democratic congresswoman, who ran against Dingell in 2002.

  I know the three above are a little heavy on the western side of the district, but feel free to suggest others from Dearborn or wherever.

  Michigan doesn't need a rulebreaking early primary, it needs a reformed auto industry, and a serious turnover in its Democratic (and Republican) leaders. Unless you feel that Michigan Democratic leadership really is the best possible leadership available...

Granholm's hilarious letter to presidential candidates re 1/15/08 primary

by: David Boyle

Fri Aug 31, 2007 at 02:14:00 AM EDT

  And here's one fresh and fragrant nugget:

  "I understand that Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina are circulating a letter to presidential candidates that asks them to sign a pledge not to campaign in any state that gives its voters a real voice in the nominating process by moving its primary into the month of January."

  So Michigan and many other states are *REALLY VOICELESS* if they have a primary/caucus after midnight on Jan. 31. Excuuuse me, I never knew. Gallons of tears are rolling down my cheeks right now.

  There's also,

  "I hope you will recognize that these issues facing the people of Michigan are far more important than the politics of the parties' respective nominating contests."

  True. Which is why Granholm is...playing politics with her party's respective nominating contest. (rim shot)

  One could get nasty and comment on the possibilities that the super-early primary could function to, say, put both Granholm and one of the Dingells into Hillary's presidential cabinet (out of..."gratitude" to supporters of the early primary and of Hillary, maybe), and gratify another Dingell by extorting the Dem presidential candidates into axing the CAFE standards (to mollify Michigan special interests) and letting Detroit melt the globe instead of getting its act together as it should. But those are only hypotheticals, likely as they might be.

  At this point, I'd trade away Granholm as our governor in favor of Howard Dean as our governor, in a microsecond. Too bad we don't have that option. I guess Vermont got the good luck.

Knollenberg targeted by House Oversight Committee

by: bfealk

Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 06:25:48 AM EDT

House panel chairman says secret efforts to oppose Calif. emissions waiver suggest a 'hidden agenda.'

David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Transportation secretly lobbied dozens of members of Congress in recent weeks, urging them to join the Bush administration in opposing California's request to impose its own strict fuel efficiency regulations, according to a House investigative committee.

Using a one-page script and a list of auto facilities obtained from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group that represents automakers, staffers at the Department of Transportation called nearly every congressional member from Michigan and Ohio, urging them to oppose California's request, according to records released this week by the House Oversight Committee. They also targeted other auto-heavy districts and governors in at least seven other states.

While federal law bars government officials from lobbying lawmakers on issues before Congress, there are no such restrictions on regulatory questions, such as the California waiver.
The Rest of the story here:
http://www.detnews.c...

Tuesday Coffee Talk/Open Thread

by: ScottyUrb

Tue Jul 03, 2007 at 09:19:31 AM EDT

• AP: Democrats, environmentalists renew push to limit water diversions. Michigan would not be Michigan if not for our Great Lakes water!
• AP: Auto Alliance backs House plan on fuel economy. "Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., an ally of the auto industry, wants to consider fuel efficiency standards in the fall when his Energy and Commerce Committee reviews climate change legislation."
• WUOM: Governor unhappy with pace of budget talks. Not like any of us blame her. Of course, things would be going smoother if Senate Republicans weren't vacationing, giving us opportunities to take pictures of them and win $50.
• DetNews: Governor's television ad to discuss business tax plan. Actually it's from the Michigan Democratic Party.
• Lessenberry: Taxing Concerns. Jack discusses efforts to "tweak" the new Michigan Business Tax, and why new revenues are needed. He also interviewed State Treasurer Bob Kleine.
• LSJ: Area's corn crop booming, thanks to ethanol demand. Good write-up from the LSJ. Now about that database...
• Freep: Six Candidates yanked off ballot in Warren. Makes sense: If you don't pay your water bill, you don't deserve to run for city office.  If only those who endanger America's national security weren't let off so easily...
• MichiganFireworks.com - Want to take in some neat pyrotechnics? This site lists nearly 500 fireworks displays from tonight through December!
• And finally, Michigan Liberal is pleased to endorse Lisa Simpson for President. Okay, not really. But if you go to the website and sign up to show your support, you help Lucy and a few others! Details here.

In Defense of Carl Levin (The new CAFE standards Vote)

by: DianeS

Fri Jun 22, 2007 at 21:16:21 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Auto companies and Michigan lawmakers were regrouping Friday in the wake of the approval Thursday of a Senate bill that raises corporate average fuel economy mandates by 40 percent by 2025.

Passage of the bill was a huge blow to Detroit's automakers, which had lobbied hard against the new rules. They had backed a compromise proposed by Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Christopher Bond, R-Mo., among others, that would have raised CAFE mandates, but less dramatically than the Senate bill.

Nearly the entire Michigan congressional delegation met this morning for 45 minutes to discuss how to proceed in the wake of the loss.

"The bill would mean the death of Michigan," said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. "We owe it to a lot of families who rely on the auto industry to get this right."

Added Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee: "You think things are bad now in Michigan? You haven't seen anything yet if that bill became law."

Stupak and Rogers said automakers need to emphasize their advanced technology efforts and push for more assistance to make vehicles like the Chevy Volt a reality.

But Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid used harsh language to say that senators didn't find automakers credible suggested auto companies "misrepresented the facts" at time.

"We don't believe you anymore,'" Reid said. "The answer is we've had enough. It's time the American automobile manufacturers join with the rest of the world in recognizing that people want to buy more fuel efficient cars."

http://www.detnews.c...

Dingell throws Tony Soprano at Obama

by: David Boyle

Tue May 15, 2007 at 17:50:34 PM EDT

  "...So he took umbrage today with a speech given last week by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat who is running for president. In a speech to the Detroit Economic Club, Obama chastised the auto industry for not working harder to achieve better fuel-efficiency standards.
  Dingell used his speech to the same organization to shoot back:
  "I admire Sen. Obama's enthusiasm..? But with all due respect, as the Sopranos would say - I would not travel to Chicago for the purpose of teaching people how to butcher hogs."
  The line drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd, which was much smaller than the audience for Obama's speech. ..."

  Hm.
  ...It is not always good to draw on gangsters, even fictional ones, for wisdom, even in jest? Something to chew on.
  I wonder about Dingell's "ignorant outsider" theme, too; he also implied this about Ward Connerly, and look what happened there.

  There are fascinating reader comments in the Freep thread, as well.

  Don't watch too many gangster shows now, y'all.