The DOJ's investigation of people and corporations who disagree with President Trump smacks of fascism. And warning Mercedes not to join the pact? Sickening.
25
No wonder if you try registering a complaint with the DOJ on its website the link is broken.
14
Shame on General Motors. Cozying up with Trump at the expense of our environment. And now Trump wants to waste taxpayer money with this investigation. His battle with the AT&T merger was also a flop and waste.
15
Next week the Trump Administration will reintroduce littering,
in order to creat union jobs picking up the litter.
14
These actions are totally inane as well as very damaging for the planet and the health of all humans. In my youth, there was much pollution in the air, the smog. Certainly we could look at China and India to see the damage pollution causes. Why go back to that, because the inferior trump needs to destroy every good intelligent thing that Mr. Obama did? This clear and present danger, trump who is an amoral bully and should be stopped in his tracks.
Hopefully, many other states will join California in this endeavor, including my beloved home state of New Jersey.
12
Let's be real. This is retribution, pure and simple, for California delivering the popular vote to HRC--and for the state's contribution to the Democratic majority in the House. Does anyone truly believe that DOJ would come down with equal force if this were done in, say Mississippi or West Virginia?
12
The Trump administration does NOT understand the meaning of forming a MORE PERFECT UNION.
They seek division and destruction of norms and laws at every turn. I fear Trump and his sycophants are going to leave this country in shambles ....
15
This is a dictatorship at work. Plain and simple.
20
soooooo.... let me get this straight: the DOJ says the automakers are limiting "consumer choice," so they want to take the option of high mileage cars away from consumers... The Republic Party talks about "states' rights," but won't let 13 states set their own emissions standards....
21
Who's defending my children's right to live on a habitable planet?
13
All responsible employees of the justice department and the epa as well as their lawyers should resign rather than carry out this planet suicidal mission
They should be ashamed of themselves and should think hard about what their children will say
11
What next? Will Trump's Justice lackeys decide to go after mountain states' stringent winter air quality standards because they are tighter than the national EPA's? How about any number of states' requirement for non-flammable materials in products like furniture, blankets, pet items, etc.? Bullying states, coming directly from the States' Rights party. Ronald Reagan must be twirling in his grave.
12
The dictator must dictate everything. The Emperor may have no clothes and is sending us careening backwards, but don't embarrass him or you too will be investigated.
Shades of a Mad Man.
Now who elected Trump?
12
The completely politicized (corrupted) DOJ better investigate everything, because everything seems to embarrass Trump.
7
Does any state then have the authority to over ride the Federal Govt. on anything then? Abortion, Guns, marriage? Be careful what you wish for California. This will surely be settled in Court.
2
This cannot possibly be true. It’s April Fool’s Day, transplanted to Sept. 6. Right? I mean, seriously? Really?
3
...national conspiracy to limit coal-burning automobiles...
3
So it is OK for states to have different standards when it comes to guns, abortion but not for fuel economy standards? Does the Trump Administration's (and its GOP enablers) hypocrisy have no shame?
12
As Trump gets more despotic he gets more obvious about his bully tactics. I suspect he thinks his McConnell's hand picked Supreme Court will strike down California when this gets to them. Perhaps Republicans will consider his mental instability a threat to the party and retire the old codger.
6
NOAA, DOJ, Commerce, Republican Party, on and on. They all have been corrupted with barely a wimper by propagandist authoritarian rule. And if you have a problem with any of that, brace yourselves for an added layer of evangelical theocracy. Be seeing you!
6
This man is utterly vindictive, completely irrational and truly believes that the levers of government are in his hands for his personal purposes.
Even Mike Pence would be better than this.
6
A pathetic sign of the decay of the US government when some auto companies do what is morally and societly correct, and it offends Trump
7
The administration is trying to force car manufacturers to make vehicles which use more fuel and produce more pollution .
The terms "farcical" and "ridiculous" are totally inadequate to describe this. Or would be under any other president.
11
In addition to all the other misfeasance, malfeasance, dishonesty and damage Mr. Trump has done to our country and the world - Mr. Trump spending my tax dollars to punish those who either show he is lying with actual facts and evidence; or that he made an inaccurate claim out of ignorance or mistake is the most agregious abuse of power in recent memory. Mr. Trump continues to attempt to bend public perception of reality to that which conforms to what Mr. Trump espouses; no matter how far that deviates from what is otherwise undisputed as true and accurate. Mr. Trump is knowingly endangering the lives of Americans in violation of his oath of office and thus must be removed, charged, prosecuted and jailed. "Lock him up".
9
Considering the external costs of dirty air from car and light truck emissions, the California stricter regulations are actually more economic from a cost benefit analysis. As usual the Trump crooks try to stand Science on its head to reap part of the short term profits from present high pollution vehicles, and absent that they are just doubling down on their anti-Obama propaganda to please their racist supporters. What I don't understand is why GM, Toyota, and other American manufacturers are not supporting Ford, BMW, and Honda. And Mercedes, by hesitating, is just being chicken.
9
In the Trump administration, the Justice Department works for Trump, not the people, and Barr, Attorney General in name only, is Trump's consigliere. Trump's cabinet is all about letting every fox into the henhouse, and Congressional Republicans, busily pumping money into Trump coffers by staying at Trump properties whenever possible, do his bidding while ignoring their constituents. In short, the GOP, now Trump's wholly owned subsidiary, is a party of grifters and scammers. Republicans may draw salaries from the taxpayers, but it's not the taxpayers or America they serve.
14
Wait...isn’t this socialism! These private companies chose to enter into this pact with California, judging it to be in their longer-term financial interests. Why is the Trump administration interfering?
3
The Department of Justice trying to intimidate car manufacturers to INCREASE their emissions? That is sick. The term "Perversion of Justice" has never been more fitting .
13
So now building a better product is anti-competitive????
It would appear that Trump, the EPA, DOT and DOJ are now wholly owned subsidiaries of big oil.
Sounds like more than enough justification for a complete lack of confidence in the entire Trump administration, top to bottom.
12
Whoever manufactures the first coal-powered car wins!
2
I thought it was an embarrassment for the auto companies and California - if CA can ever be embarrassed.
Republicans who, when faced with efforts by states to criminalize abortions, say it is "more power to the states in a federal system". Now, when it comes to efforts by a big state to have clean air it is an anti-trust matter because it embarrasses a president who is never wrong in his own polluted mind. I have lived through the pollution of the pre-environmental cleanup days begun by that Republican Richard Nixon, and Trump did as well. But, hey, more coal, less sun power and less sun for the poor and sunny Mar-a-Largo for these shady people.
6
We taxpayers, some of us who working tirelessly to make our communities carbon neutral, are funding every suit the government wages against environmental protection. How much does that amount to right now? Someone should add it all up and uppublicize it.
It's enough to make me crawl under a rock, drink myself into a stupor, succumb to despair and inaction. But this and other shameful travesties must make us stronger. Don't just intellectualize his actions, shake your heads, complain, then try to not think about it. . Organize, resist, and overcome.
6
And Trump wants to bring back incandescent light bulbs, too. His efforts will fail there as well. Clocks run only clockwise.
3
Another really scary aspect to Trump's legal action against California and the auto industry? That these huge corporations and their peers "fear retribution" from Trump's administration.
What do they fear? What can he do to these wealthy corporations? if they're afraid of him (Give me a break!), what should the average citizen do? Be quiet and never make Trump mad?
4
DJT and GOP have, as a goal, Earth's destruction. They're well on the way to succeeding.
5
I wonder how much money the auto makers donated to the Trump campaign and to the Republican Party.
I'm guessing they didn't get their money's worth.
3
There appears to be no rationale to this idea other than to undo another piece of Obama legislation. Does Trump's 35% base really want this sort of legislation? Perhaps Trump owes the oil industry. Could be anything, or nothing. Trump and his folks are so used to lying to 'supporters' that they don't have any interest in facts. Just tonight on the news I heard a gem: Said the California rules will make automobiles more expensive and dangerous. .... duh
5
Make the world habitable for co2-loving Aliens......
What Trump and his Toadies are doing in various departments, reversing every measure to combat climate change, opening the gates wide for fossil fuels and pollution, reminds me of a 1996 film with Charlie Sheen, The Arrival . He discovers that shapeshifting aliens are on earth, even in high government posts. And they are trying to raise the Earth's temperature to not only kill off humans (by greatly exacerbating anthropogenic climate change) but to make the planet hospitable for themselves. If the hero of the story after discovering this conspiracy says to make this story known to the world, the top Alien says it doesn't matter, he didn't have to do much to incite the earth's inhabitants to pollute and warm up their planet. And, he says: they will not believe you and just keep doing it, because of greed and money. The Aliens will go back and return as soon as the humans have finished their destructive job.
Is there a lesson?
4
The Justice Department's new role is to protect and support Trump. Like in any other dictatorship.
5
This story is about much more than emission standards, or the lawful action of the State of California versus the corruption of the Trump Administration. This story is about the complete unmitigated degeneracy of the Republican Party. Because except for Republicans, Trump and his cronies would be on their way to prison.
8
This is just the latest sign of the creeping corporatism that is afflicting our nation and the world. First the Business Roundtable assures us that corporations are not primarily answerable to their shareholders anymore but to the greater good of the people. How benevolent. We can trust them now. Unfortunately profits are still their only goal. The governor of California, however, invites them to the “table” and negotiates with them as equals as if they were not answerable to the people but can function independently to change laws and regulations. Where do they get that right? Can any of us as individuals claim the same prerogative? No, that’s why we have elected representatives, but their input was not welcome because, as the article points out, the negotiations were done in secret. The bias of the NYT in running this article is evident. Corporations are “good,” but Trump is “bad” The problem with this type of thinking even if true is that corporations are not elected bodies, and they don’t have to go back to the people every four years for their approval. Only the people and their elected leaders should decide, but in this case they have been shut out.
So, let me get this straight: four automakers have willingly agreed, in our capitalist free market, to set targets for fuel economy. This is the stuff that free market people (who used to be known as “conservatives”) are always crowing about. So now that the free market is working in a way the Republican administration doesn’t like (because that free market is supporting initiatives that conflict with its draconian environmental policy), that administration is going to try to penalize companies in the so called free market for working it out on their own to gain a competitive advantage AND create a better product for consumers?
Not to mention the hypocrisy of allowing states’ rights only when it agrees with your asinine policies.
10
The slide continues. The DOJ investigating US companies for a completely legal deal? This is banana republic stuff. We are a short trip away from Russian Oligarchs and Putinesque attacks on the opposition. You say “it can’t happen here?” I used to produce news reports in war zones where every person said, “we thought it couldn’t happen here.” Be afraid people. This is a road, the end of which we have not yet come to...
8
The auto companies, for once, seem more in tune with benefit to society than our government which is supposed to take the lead in protecting a healthy society. Supposed to... Under Trump this has fallen to obscenely new levels of irony and damage to the common good. And yes, the fact that auto companies are tied in to global markets that require more stringent standards is an interesting wrinkle in the effects of global markets. However you fuel cars higher mileage standards are essential. Europe has been leading the way on this for decades.
4
Yea California and auto industry - as the Trumpster tries to abolish clean air and water (must be something that he gains personally by doing so or he trashes anything accomplished by the Obama Adminstration), the States are empowered to do right for the country and its constituents. Everything coming out of the White House is just hurting the American people. Trump the enemy of the people has got to go in 2020.
4
Keep going tRump. Erode all the so called values the GOP claims to have in their platform. Mainly, in this case, hands off capitalism. The next liberal president will have plenty of precedence to cause companies and corporations to bend to the more socialistic control of capitalism especially when this president has both houses of congress. Good buy conservatives we hardly knew you.
4
Oh how the GOP has changed. The once staunch defender of states rights is now telling states that the federal government is the supreme authority. I guess that goes along with complaining non stop about budget deficits until there a Republican president is elected.
5
Auto makers and other industries complain about different regulations imposed by states which create a confusion of regulatory requirements. The simplest solution is to build a car or other product to meet the most stringent standards, and by default, comply with all of the others. VW did this in the '80s and '90s (and probably still do, but I'm not sure) and all vehicles produced for the US market met CA standards whether you bought it in NY, TX or HI. So the automakers make one car that meets CA standards and sell it across the market. If the feds don't like it they can sue CA, and try to balance that with the republican premise of state's rights to impose their own regulations for abortion, gun control, voting restrictions, etc. Of course republican hypocrisy doesn't seem to be a problem.
8
I read the comments and reaction to POTUS 45s and his DOJ; good meaning people asking why he did this?
I believe in root causes. Once root causes are established, anything can be explained. In a college physics class, going back to root causes enabled the class to derive a complex equation explaining the propagation of waves through a medium.
The reason is not about auto emissions, it is about DJT.
I submit that if one starts with the comprehension that POTUS 45 is responsible for the establishment of the AMERICAN GULAG along our southern border. With this core value in mind, one can explain his actions.
An individual and an administration capable of that heinous and inhumane act is capable of anything. This DOJ antitrust objection is a trivial detail to POTUS 45; he who must be obeyed and who can never be wrong.
All the evil that POTUS 45 has imposed on, not only our country, but on the world stems from a person whose basic inhumanity allows him to imprison brown skinned human beings in the American Gulag and to separate brown skinned children from their families.
History will not be kind to him and to his enablers.
14
So the car companies want to produce cars with lower emissions and the administration wants them to produce vehicles that pollute more. There is no sense in this argument. It's as if Mr. Trump is purposefully targeting the environment and trying to inflict as much harm as he possibly can.
9
The obeisance of Trump’s Justice Department and its willingness to take up a cudgel for his injured ego is the clearest sign we have of a fully functional autocracy.
12
It seems there is a new class of patriots being created in America, comprised of people, organizations, and companies who will not submit to anti-American rules, ideas, or measures promulgated by the federal government's executive branch. They are willing to take on 'the man' for the sake of the common good.
5
When it come to a waste of money Trump and Company have come to a new high.
The tenth amendment only applies to states that he likes.
7
If Donald Trumpet was breathing in exhaust out of an exhaust pipe, I think, after a while, assuming he still had access to the few cerebral functions he has under normal breathing conditions, he might, right then and there, actually be thankful for fewer harmful fumes.
4
As a consumer, I will not buy any car that does not meet the California standards for emissions.
Don the Con is flailing, now using car emissions as his new whip to get his way. However, His "way" leads us to nowhere good.
The added pollution costs far outweigh any savings from higher emissions. The idea that the DOJ would promote this case is evidence of the corruption of pay-to-play AG Barr. He lobbied for the job with his "memo" then finds a way to pay the boss back with a 30K party at a Trump hotel and this antitrust nonsense about car emissions.
No doubt there are other paybacks waiting to be exposed as we walk this pathway to impeachment.
For the country's sake and the world, I hope it's soon. The feted smell of corruption, political incompetence, greed and dictatorship that have brought on global climate destruction can no longer be ignored.
9
The only real answer will eventually be electric vehicles and an energy system that will supply them. That will not come tomorrow. But it must come world wide. Notice that the German auto companies have already indicated they will convert. And the American companies are coming around.
There can be a bright future. But we need to be very serious about our move away from fossil fuels. The transportation system is central to that.
The shortsightedness of the administration is clear. But that is not news.
3
It's hard in light of this brazen abuse of power to believe that William Barr goes to work everyday wondering where all this misbehavior is going to lead. These people know what they are doing and they surely.have a plan. It will not be a nice plan for the American people.
9
I recently switched from buying only GM products to North American-built Hondas. I did so because of fuel efficiency, reliability and lower emissions. My mechanic applauded my decision and the car has served me well from Key West to Montpelier and everywhere in-between.
14
Just when I thought this administration couldn't sink any lower, it has! I don't think anyone would object to having a more fuel efficient car. It might cost more upfront but savings would accrue as the car is driven. I don't think this is a matter to be dealt with through antitrust law. That wasn't the intent of the law. The Justice Department can twist the law however they choose (and they do) but this isn't the path they should be taking. Barr is a great disappointment to those who thought he would be a fair and impartial Attorney General.
13
You can't make this up. We are suing companies for their desire to do better than federal standards? The auto industry as a whole was against the repeal of the tighter standards. But it seems clear the oil lobby had more influence with a reckless disregard for the environment. The damage trump is doing, by rolling back clean air and water regulations, is criminal.
13
@Foodie
YES. "Criminal" is the operative word here. Add this one to the many other criminal acts that this administration and its minions have perpetrated and it becomes a matter of despair and utter frustration to see that we have now a Department of INjustice. Because it is working FOR the criminals.
2
It's simple if not easy: this is about maintaining a market of people who will be alive to purchase these vehicles and others. It is not about politics; it is about ultimately surviving climate change with a lifestyle somewhat akin to one we know. If we are polluted to death, there are no car buyers.
I choose survival over the unchecked political id of the out-of-touch and out-of-control right wingers. The Justice Department is supposed to be working for justice for all, not the politics of the trumpists.
7
You can’t make this stuff up! They are being sued by the DOJ at the obvious request of the mad king because they agreed to make cars that don’t pollute enough? Really? This is how far we’ve come and he still has supporters? It’s hilarious! In a very dark way. Very.
8
Oh yes. The intrusion of the federal government only bothers the repubs when it is for the good of the people.
2
Once again, the US Justice Department (William Barr) is acting like Trump's personal attorney. If the day comes that a state and/or private companies cannot protect consumers or seek to prevent environmental catastrophe, we are all n big heap of trouble.
7
Think this one through for a minute. Does it mean that anytime two or more competing companies make a product that exceeds federal standards the DOJ will threaten them?
4
You’re missing the point. If they did so on their own it would be different. Instead they reach a secret agreement with each other and the state of California. Why should these companies make national policy? Aren’t we still a democracy?
1
@Edward
First off, the agreement is not secret - otherwise we wouldn’t be writing about it.
Secondly, let’s take the State of California out of the picture . Imagine two companies came to an agreement to manufacture competing products that exceeded Federal requirements. Would they then draw the ire of the DOJ?
But wait! We don’t have to imagine such a scenario - 5G cell service, for example.
Frankly, your democracy statement, given the results of the 2016 state and federal elections, is also somewhat questionable .
2
They are making policy because our "leaders" are failing to do so.
1
Gee, what about states rights and federalism? Guess that vaunted Republican value only applies if the state actions at issue sanction discrimination or suppress minority voters.
10
@In VA That right ends at the California border.
I wonder who, exactly, in the Trump administration does this the work required to tear down US Regulations and Institutions. It's not just Trump. With Executive Time until 11, and the US lunch break between 12 and 1, that leaves only 6 hrs in the day for Presidential Time. That's hardly enough to get in any real work before Residence Time with Macca's at 6 in the avo with Fox.
So who is it?
2
Connect the dots
1. Of the four companies, three are foreign.
2. Of the big three American companies, only one Ford
joined. GM and Chrysler did not
So this may be just an attempt to wrong foot foreign competition
As to the passenger car mileage regulations of President Obama, laudable as they were, they are becoming increasingly irrelevant, as American are switching from passenger cars to Pickup Trucks and Large SUVs .
Note that Ford and GM both announced to stop passenger car production because of falling sales.
1
I am proud to say I drive a Honda Civic and my next vehicle purchase will be electric.
5
The fact that the automakers made the agreement with California shows that they believe that they can meet those standards. It seems that the Trump administration, especially its head, is intent upon destroying the environment in any way it can in the name of what? Just to try to erase Obama? To help business cronies? To undo any and all regulations no matter how valid? Hard to say.
Between this ongoing behavior on the environment and the increasingly stringent rules re human beings, i.e., immigrants & refugees, it seems that cruelty and destruction in the service of the very, very fragile ego of an uninformed and uncaring man are the whole goals.
9
And Trump’s object in all this rolling-back is — what? To ingratiate himself with the oil companies? To reinforce his bona fides as a climate-change denier? Or to punish an unappreciative world by doing it as much harm as possible before he’s consigned to the ash heap of history?
9
Good grief. Enough already.
Manufacturers and consumers of all goods need to stop allowing themselves to be controlled by the petty tyrant occupying our White House. If all the car companies followed VW, Ford, BMW'S lead it would send a resounding message and also help take back control of our country. If consumers buy only from companies who are showing such responsible leadership it would reinforce their continued good behavior.
We are only controlled if we allow ourselves to be controlled.
10
Since when do private companies have the right to make laws or set rules? Isn’t that the exclusive right of the people through their elected representatives? Today the companies might be eco-friendly in their dealings with the state of California. Tomorrow they might be less so in their agreements with other states. In fact, the agreement with California sets a disturbing precedent by lowering the Obama era standard of fifty-four mpg to fifty-one. I would like to have been a fly on the wall so that I could hear what arguments the companies made on their own selfish behalf during the “negotiations.” It probably wouldn’t make for great PR. The DOJ looks at it from an antitrust point of view, but there is a greater Constitutional issue at stake which is the right of the people to be governed by their own elected representatives instead of forfeiting that power to corrupt private corporations which care only about their own profits.
@Edward Wait, the companies are making laws and setting rules? I would swear that the story said that it was California that would do that. And that California has a waiver from the feds to enforce stricter standards on emissions, which they've had pretty much ever since air pollution standards were developed like back in the sixties. I assume that the federal EPA is now working on a plan to revoke that waiver so that coastal California can begin to match Beijing in air quality. More Trump administration working for your quality of life.
7
As with most other outrages of the Trump administration, it can be left to the consumer. If we don't buy gas-guzzlers, they won't be produced.
4
@annabellina. But gas guzzlers will sell well in Trump territory, because they believe the Trump truth that Climate Change is a hoax. Unfortunately the CO2 addled to the atmosphere will impact all of us.
The truth is that Trump is pandering to the fossil fuel industry. There is a election coming and Trump needs their money to dominate the airways. Intimidation is the bully response Trump uses in all situations.
2
Why not put lead in gas, again? Surely it would give us cheaper fuel to the consumer, and choice!
1
Somebody need to do an investigation of the Justice Department. Send those guys to prison for the rest of their lives. Life sentence, with no possibility of parole.
8
This misuse of the Justice Department is shocking, criminal, and the end of a nation too young to die - unless we take action against this power-mad excuse for a president.
He has taken power over the department that almost did its job and sent him to trial for an ongoing effort to subvert investigation of his own criminality, acts that, if proven, are themselves criminal.
He won.
Until he placed William Barr as Attorney General, we had a chance.
He has effectively closed the Federal Elections Commission, and replaced head regulators throughout the government with representatives of businesses they are designated to regulate, designated because of the damage they caused the nation and world.
Now a group of manufacturers has decided to do something good for the country - Evil, Trump cries.
Of course he has a bit of a problem right now.
Maybe people who looked up to this man who seems out to crash the economy, melt the glaciers and choke us with the poison of “clean coal”.
Just two days ago, he took on the planet, using a marker to “prove” a hurricane was barreling its way into Alabama by drawing a line on a map produced by the apolitical supercomputers run by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
‘I’ll tell hurricanes where they’re going - my friends tell me I’m the Second Coming’ he seemed to shout.
NOAA told him it had it on good authority which way the wind was going, obviously better than his.
18
The petulant venality of the current administration seemingly has no bounds.
At least I now have a short list of automobile manufacturers that I can consider at such time as a new vehicle purchase is necessary.
17
@Scott, howcome Toyota wasn't included? we love our hybrid Prius and probably smart Toyota grinned and thought, we make the cars people want and will continue to do so because the market decides. we don't need no stinking agreement, badges. our 10 year old prius gives us about 45 mpg and we don't waste time at gas ststions. next time you drive on the highway,notice how many toyotas are on the road.
1
There is no independence in any Federal agency in this country. Trump micromanages them all like a Russian dictator demanding total allegiance to him and his agenda. Look how the military cowered and went down on one knee, waving a white flag, while handing over 3.6 billion dollars, to build Trump’s monument to himself. The Trump Wall. (Congress cut their budget. They just proved they can do without the money.) Since Barr took over, the Justice Department has become a misnomer. It has become the State Sponsored, “Enemies of Trump Enforcement Police”. They are using taxpayer money to go after any one and any entity that doesn’t stand up and salute Trump and his policies, without questioning him. Of course, California would be on Trump’s hit list. They had the audacity to require candidates to release their tax returns, before they can go on the ballot. That made the little man really angry. What happens when Trump gets angry? He retaliated. Like promising Mexico would pay for the wall, turning over his taxes was another thing Trump promised the voters he would do, but now wants us to forget all about it. Trump doesn’t seem to know or understand our Constitution or how this country was set up. He thinks states should be under his control too. If they decide to do things independent of his wishes, he will go after them with coercion and retaliation.
8
The carbon cycle for the last 2 million years was doing 180-280ppm atmospheric CO2 over 10,000 years and we’ve done more change than that in 100 years.
The last time CO2 went from 180-280ppm global temperature increased by around 5 degrees C and sea level rose 130 meters.
Here’s a graph of the last 400,000 years of global temperature, CO2 and sea level http://www.ces.fau.edu/nasa/images/impacts/slr-co2-temp-400000yrs.jpg
Only about 4 degrees C separates preindustrial temperature from that of the glaciations which carved out places like Cape Cod and Yosemite Valley.
We're in the process of creating a world unrecognizable to current generations and we won't like it.
11
Oh, but it's our "choice"!
If the US government files any such claim, it should be sanctioned under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, since it would not be tenable under any recognized theory of antitrust liability.
Here is the nutshell statement of the case.
A group of sellers that constitute perhaps 30% of any properly defined market have reached agreement with a state that has authority to regulate them concerning how it will exercise that authority. That agreement has helped these sellers to lessen their costs, giving them the lowest cost structure that California will allow, which they will now use for all of their cars to avert the extra cost of complying with two different sets of standards -- the Blue State standard (California and its emulators) and the Red State standard (the other states).
Besides, the agreement on its face is protected by the Noerr-Pennington doctrine, which says that a party cannot commit an antitrust violation by seeking redress from a government authority (except when the party conducts sham litigation to disrupt competitors).
Moreover, the sellers in question lack substantial market power: other sellers have the power to deprive them of business if they start mistreating their customers. But anyway their agreement doesn't mistreat customers: rather, it promotes consumer welfare by finding a lawful, efficient way to offer less toxic products to the largest possible market of purchasers.
This "case" makes a mockery of our antitrust laws.
18
Remember when Republicans used to go on and on about how States should have the freedom to make their own decisions and be laboratories for democracy? Heaven forbid that a state would seek a separate path setting higher standards then a federal policy. That would be Anti-Republican. Remember that? It was not so long ago.
39
@Speakin4Myself Perhaps not long ago in true time - but it seems it has been a million years since Romney argued true Republican values. The Republican party is gone. It's members, advocates and leaders have been twisted into an unrecognizable monster more likely to support a Mussolini type of leader and government than anything which resembles a democratic republic envisioned by the founders.
3
One asks why the DOJ isn't investigating the use by the military of a Trump property in Ireland to house service members while their plane is refueling at a small airport near there and not as the always have at nearby military bases in the region, reported by Politico and Rachel Maddow. Fueling alone is into the millions, far more expensive than on bases and the House has been trying to get information from the Pentagon since June. Now why isn't that being investigated by the DOJ 'cause there seems to be a lot of injustice, corruption and something in the Constitution concerning the emoluments clause here.
32
From David Griggs, former head of the IPCC science working group secretariat, in a conversation with four climate scientists discussing their fears for the future.
“You can say you don’t believe in gravity, but the apple will still hit you on the head.
You can say you don’t believe in global warming, but that’s not going to stop it getting hotter.
I think we are headed to a future with considerably greater warming than 2 degrees C. … that means a lot of people will suffer. A lot of people will die.”
https://youtu.be/jIy0t5P0CUQ
18
Message heard loud and clear: Mercedes has decided to publicly back President Trump. The Mercedes brand is becoming less relevant every day. Hope they lose the California voters too. Long live Tesla.
19
Never heard about such an endorsement ! Can you quote that ?
There are 2 things I’d like to point out:
One is the nature of how the EPA drafts regulation. I know a little about from my own work, but a very important comment from an interview I heard on NPR today was that the Trump administration is finding it hard to just roll these regulations back. That is because the EPA has to find a public health or environmental health need (mercury emissions are more harmful then earlier thought, or that global temperature rise poses both environmental and human health consequences) and that the economic cost to society is not greater than the benifits to society. These are not trivial tasks and are taken quite seriously. It took years of work to draft them and industry is at the table. Rolling them back means you have to prove something is wrong with all the original analysis, and you have to substitute some other analysis to say the cost is too high or the health need is not there. Hence the news that the EPA was changing its cost effectiveness analysis. But all that is subject to challenge in the courts. Industry has used this as well as environmental advocacy groups. The trumpistas have to actually show some rigour and reasoning, which they are short on. So they turn to indimidation, just as DT has worked in business.
And second. I don’t want to throw labels around, but just read from the Wikipedia article on Economics of Fascism:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics_of_fascism
18
This is crazy. I’ve been waiting for governance to flex its antitrust muscle, Facebook or Twitter for example. But hey, Justice hits a foul ball not a home run. It’s embarrassing, Antitrust for no good. It turns the concept of basis sideways. Where’s the harm in better emissions?
7
Where can I buy a California car? I don’t want any other over polluting vehicle regardless of what Trump wants.
19
Teslas are all made in California.
This angry retaliation is clearly malicious in nature and by that fact, any decisions will favor the victims of the Injustice department targeted in this circumstance. The Government knows they would lose but they also understand the socially manipulative propaganda value of it as it will strike fear in the minds of the California regulators and motor companies.
Imagine that! The Trump government is using it's endless resources and finances to victimize all Americans. Isn't that what dictators do?
14
Trump and the Republican party are the biggest threats to our national security and the biggest threats to our planet in my lifetime.
The patriots in our government, including the FBI, CIA, the military, and the Supreme Court have a sworn, sacred duty to protect and defend both the US Constitution and We The People who live by it.
15
Of course the Trump administration is doung this. They are not the adults in the room, but rather are uncaring, self-centered, ill-i formed, and selfish children. They react like 5-year-olds who are not getting their way.
In this case, however, they are after money and fascistic power. Well, maybe that’s what young children are after also, just recognized by different terms.
Either way, the Trumpists continue to betray their true colors: destroy democracy in America.
8
Trump Administration is basically pro-natural resources draining entity. Profits over our global humanity.
6
Fine, let's go back to the CA, OR, WA, New England standards - all car makers if they want to sell in these states have to go with the standards set by CA. Lets see which automakers voluntarily do it on their own.
4
All this does is reaffirm a decision to remain a BMW/Honda family until the day we die.
6
The car companies need to stand up to the bully. Those that will, will strengthen their brand in California and most places that care. This is not time to be scared and hide under a rock. Use every legal tool to resist the government.
To the car companies I say “Be proud. Own it. Take names. Shame your peers that are hiding behind the skirts of this immoral administration. And more than that, use this to gain market share away from GM, Toyota, MBZ and others. We the consumers are with you.”
13
States rights are only worth preserving under this presidency when they are in line with federal policy or presidential lunacy and/or pride.
3
Republican revenge is oh so sweet. They were very upset about eastern states suing over the polluted air being sent to them from other states. Now they get to sue California for sending fresh air. Turnabout indeed is fair play
2
Seems safe to conclude by now that the Trump administration is genuinely trying to kill us. The Republican Party has gone full Thanatos. They prefer our planet's death to losing power.
10
What I want to know is : When will Trump announce that the 1970's phaseout of tetraethyl lead in gasoline was an illegal act, and henceforth, all gasoline in the U.S. must contain it.
After all, neurological lead accumulation is what made Donald Trump the man he is today.
13
tRumps enablers must never be forgiven.
6
Trumps frail ego and his character disorder personality cannot accept being wrong. He effectively throws a tantrum when defied. The nerve of California and other states to address vehicle fuel standards; and being unable to let go of his Alabama hurricane nonsense come from the same place in his mind.
9
Another massive waste of taxpayer money, spent trying to avenge the Fake President who has embarrassed himself and disgraced the office of the Real Presidency again. I feel sorry for the real lawyers at the Justice Department who could be investigating real problems that have real solutions to actually help our country and our society.
12
Trump's justice department thinks that California is Mississippi. It is not and will never bend backwards; for anyone. It's the sixth largest economy on the planet. Clean air is good for business, period.
19
So Trump and his "Justice" Department are trying to compel automakers to pollute MORE?? Makes perfect sense, given the constant pollution coming out of his mouth.
4
There is a good reason that the Republican Party is irrelevant and almost extinct in California. The GOP in other states should take heed. Your backward Stone Age ideas are just not cutting it anymore with the majority of Americans and citizens from other democracies around the world.
4
I don’t care if Trump is embarrassed. I’m also tired of media coddling him while the world burns. Do better or lose subscribers.
1
This sounds like something Barr and Trump would brew up. POTUS does not like to be contradicted, and has the AG on a leash.
5
I’m looking forward to this administration
reintroducing leaded gas.
For old times sake.
4
And we want an introductory free carton of America’s finest cigarettes distributed to every teenager in the US.
3
While Trump's administration is investigating why the world's major automobile manufacturers want to make modern, energy efficient vehicles, the US Air Force " … has spent $11 million on fuel at the Prestwick Airport — the closest airport to Trump Turnberry — since October 2017, fuel that would be cheaper if purchased at a U.S. military base." To assist the Trump golf course property in Scotland, "... the airport provided cut-rate rooms and free rounds of golf at Turnberry for U.S. military members.
The Trump administration is the most corrupt group of grifters to have ever gained the Executive Branch. Hopefully, all of the military personnel responsible for this gross diversion of taxpayer funds, to enrich Trump, will go to prison.
Read about the diversion of your tax dollars by Trump's military grifters at:
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/06/air-force-trump-scottish-retreat-1484337
8
Wow! The heavy hand of government, am I right? Sounds pretty socialistic.
2
I will definitely buy a Ford
Headline is Bogus. Trump has proved time and time again . . . he is never embarrassed about anything . . . ANYTHING !
1
AG Barr is going to be extremely busy if he wants to launch an investigation into every case where POTUS is challenged or made to look impotent or stupid.
Barr didn't have a great rep before, but now his legacy will be that of a crime family consigliore. Wonder what he's getting out of this to make that worthwhile?
3
What, states’ rights? Who, me?
-GOP
It is unbelievable to me that US taxpayer money is being used by the US Justice Department in an attempt to force us to destroy our air and water quality standards. A pox on Donald Trump and his loathsome toady, William Barr.
10
From the article: "Now, the Justice Department is investigating whether the four automakers violated federal antitrust laws by reaching a deal with California, on the grounds that the agreement could potentially limit consumer choice,"
So consumers, you have a choice:
Using knowledge about global warming gives us things we all care about.
1 Larger economy
2 More jobs
3 Greater national security
4 Cleaner environment
5 Closer to Golden Rule
or if you want to scare people:
Pretending that the air force doesn’t understand heat-seeking missiles and that scientists and satellites are liars gives you a
1 Smaller economy
2 Fewer jobs
3 Less national security
4 Dirtier environment
5 In which we hurt other people
Using knowledge makes us better off, pretending knowledge doesn’t exist makes us worse off. Just ask the people of New Orleans who survived Katrina which was made much worse by a failure to act on the decades-old knowledge it was coming due to the facts that the city is sinking, the protective delta is eroding, sea level is rising and maximum storm strength may be increasing.
The choice is yours.
6
"[T]op lawyers from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department on Friday sent a letter of rebuke to Mary D. Nichols, the state’s senior clean air official. 'The purpose of this letter is to put California on notice' that its deal with automakers 'appears to be inconsistent with federal law,' the letter read."
Mrs. Mitch McConnell, Secretary of Transportation, supports the trump administration's program of climate catastrophe. There is no lower limit to the McConnells' corruption.
25
Another injection of uncertainty into the economy--a long anticipated regulation is overturned by fiat (pun!) and those who wished to maintain course are instructed to go in reverse or else!
So much needless uncertainty from our "business" President who obviously never learned the lesson that certainty allows for planning and progress.
GDP below 2 percent this quarter!!
9
It strikes me as insane, that the DOJ is using a pro-consumer legal basis to stop California and the auto companies from initiating better gas mileage standards, when better gas mileage saves the consumer lots of money each year!
32
Have any of trump's republican minion's been listening? Carbon emissions MUST be reduced very quickly or the consequences will be untenable for spaceship earth and all it's inhabitants as we know it today. At least the auto execs seem to get some aspects of the picture as many not only want to reduce emissions but go electric. I struggle to understand and think of a metaphor to calmly describe how trump and his supporters continue to deny in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change IS occurring and its ramifications are very broad and threatening. But of course we witness this insanity everyday now from the vapid tweets to the ignorance of facts. Pretty astonishing- what the rest of the world must think of us......
14
When was the last time you needed to have your vehicle "tuned up"? Maybe never? That's because of the fuel and emissions standards, which resulted in more efficiency, better reliability, and lower maintenance needs. Can you imagine what it would be like to breath the air in our major cities if pollution controls had not been instituted? Honda, Ford, VW, and especially BMW, I applaud you for standing up to this bully and his enablers. Mercedes, shame on you for not stepping up and doing the right thing. Where are you on this, Toyota and Nissan, Hyundai and Subaru? My next purchase will definitely take into account what companies did the right thing and told this administration to take a hike.
3
This case has been brought in California. So the likelihood that any of the recent judgeship's that have been appointed by the Trump administration would affect that case is there but likely slim, and could due to the politicization of appointments could be pushed to recuse themselves. From there even rural supporters of Trump would have to admit that it is the height of folly to believe that the auto industry wouldn't beat this possible anti-trust charge.
I happen to know about antitrust law. This potential lawsuit is a joke. What’s not a joke is that Trump is appointing a lot of federal judges who may be grateful or beholden to him and his politics. Who knows how one or several of them might respond to the antitrust lawsuit if it’s filed.
9
Dogs bark but the caravan moves on.
No amount of crony capitalism or politics will stop worldwide automotive innovation.
Good luck to the car manufacturers who choose to install old engines in their cars.
15
We are having an election next year. This is a good time for people who believe in Capitalism and free markets and freedom to innovate if the Republican Party is a good fit for them. The Trump Administration wants to go back to the past while the whole world is moving forward by leaps and bounds.
This Administration and those supporting them do not have the best interests of the Country as their number 1 priority. And the Republican Party today represents a threat to our Natoonal Security.
13
It's almost as if the Auto industry have become the adults in the room. It's quite clear that this country and this planet will require increased pollution controls, so legislation will eventually fall in line. The car manufacturers have long development cycles, so ignoring CARB standards now may increase profits a little in the short term, but would mean suicide within a decade.
The old man in Washington has little control over this.
7
This is another affront to those of us who are concerned about environmental issues. It's startling to think that a company that will do "more" rather than less gets threatened with anti-trust litigation. Really?
There is a solution and it can't be raising the fuel tax as J Schlosser - it would probably bite those who are already making little enough money. The solution is getting rid of this Administration.
24
It is only a matter of time until “the enormous prosecutorial power of the federal government” is brought to bear not against the car companies, but rather against Trump and this criminal administration.
39
So the "justice" Department's job nowadays seems to be solely to investigate anyone or anything that embarrasses or defies trump.
24
Already California is under represented in the Congress.
This provocative action by the Trump administration just further divides the country to the point where Californians rightly ask themselves : Should we secede from the Union?
14
@Angelo C - No on secede . . . but they should be broken up into three new States. North California, South Californicatia, and Disneyland.
1
The Trump Administration will fight CA each step of the way as the state stood in his way since Trump’s election. Let the law suit begin and the free market will reign. The car industry is not stupid to split their production line into 2. One to meet California CARB strict requirements, and another to meet the Trump admin wishes. Good luck, I worked in the auto industry and know what it will take. Did I mention 13 other states sign up to CA CARB? On a serious note, when enough is enough with this administration? if we allow this administration to intimidate us, as it has done in many instances (too many to count), we will be doomed to tyranny.
21
Should the Barr/Justice Department investigate the Liar’s criminal schemes that profit his businesses rather than going after corporate entities that respect the environment. When the Democratic President takes office in 2021, i do hope that 1000 executive orders are ready for him to sign to bring you back to the 21st century.
31
No, the American Petroleum Institute doesn't want to reduce it's member corporations revenues by approximately 50 percent by 2025.
4
Another example of the Trump administration working against our interests...clean air and more efficient cars.
15
‘Jeezus Murphy!’ as we say here in the Maritimes. I’m sitting here reading the news after battening down the hatches for Dorian’s arrival in our part of the world. Reading about this malicious step by your Justice Department, at the behest of a vindictive president, after watching for days about the heartbreaking devastation already laid down by Dorian, is sickening. The effects of climate change are right in front of us. I don’t know what world your administration is living in, but it isn’t one the rest of us want to be part of. Stay strong California!
38
good luck with that lawsuit.
4
So these four auto makers are agreeing to rules that will probably come around anyway once nutcase currently in office is gone in 2020. And now the nutcase thinks it ok to threaten them with litigation unless they do more lower mpg and to pollute more. And THIS he wants to punish? That's rich.
Where was the DOJ when Trump himself ruined the Iran deal, putting the whole world in danger? Where was the DJ when Trump canceled the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico so he could rename the deal? BTW the "new" deal is still not even signed.
Trump is a walking anti-trust violation.
21
Good for California.
This new requirement by the federal government happened for a reason. The reason is that Trump is extremely jealous of Obama and is changing all of Obamas actions.
17
This is a total outrage. And it is dangerous. Trump has turned the once respectable DOJ into a political hit squad, doing his bidding by threatening to prosecute companies that embarrassed him. This is what mafia dons do when they've been disrespected. That the DOJ would be reduced to threatening to kneecap those who embarrass the president is simply despicable. Our country is wallowing in a sewer continually filled to the brim by the occupant of the Oval Office.
20
Before Trump became president, he was always suing or threatening to sue someone. It's different now in that he has Barr and the DOJ to be his lackeys.
1
@Robert and in addition, it costs trump nothing- all paid for by tax payer dollars!!
Being against clean air is like being against puppy dogs. Who doesn’t like a puppy?
Oh yea,...
19
We will see.
Trump is so out of touch with reality that it’s pathetic. But he’s no further from being reasonable than McConnell and most Republicans. They think that science is good when it profits them and untrue when it gives bad news. Crazy.
13
Next up - Dick Tater mandates coal-fired boilers for all steam driven golf carts at his properties. Solves 737 Max problem by ordering up a fleet of 707’s. Issues order that the Surgeon General declare “Chesterfields are good for you.”
10
Everything about 45's "administration" is corrupt, and this so-called investigation is just intimidation and bullying worthy of Stalin.
That 45 can get his cronies in DOJ to pull this stunt is terrible, and DOJ ought to be embarrassed. But, 45's cronies are incapable of shame.
What worse is their total disregard for the environment. I guess when you're old and greedy (two scoops for 45! one for everyone else!) and stupid like 45 is, you don't care what happens to the world.
Barron is not going to thank you in 20 years for what you've done to the planet, 45. He'll likely curse your name.
10
Trump probably doesn't care what Barron thinks, now or in the future.
This, like other Trump lawsuits, will be tossed.
Now, back to the emollients investigation...
8
Thank you, California.
11
William Barr, you should be ashamed. Quit while you're ahead lest the oncoming Democratic wave find an excuse to put you under the microscope when you're out of power.
7
This may well be the most ludicrous, asinine stunt the Trump administration has pulled yet. A.G. Barr has proved himself yet again to be a morally vacuous sycophant.
13
The DOJ has zero credibility under Propaganda Minister Barr. America is broken.
14
Bring it on. Make fools of yourselves. Again.
7
Trump the criminal president now freely employs the U.S. Department of Justice as his personal cudgel. Disgusting.
14
The current administration simply makes me want to puke my insides out on a daily basis. From the constant non-abated war on climate control measures, immigration, the relentless assault on civil rights, and the never ending ego of a man with an endless pit of calamities. The monster sitting in the White House and all his minions are nothing but human refuse. History will have the last word!
9
Clairfiation? Trump needs no help from California when it comes to embarrassing trump. Trump is self embarrassing, an endless loop sucking up resources.
7
An other day...an other stupid move from Trump!
6
Wow, what vision does the republican party have for the future of the U.S.?.....demanding lower efficiency cars, dirtier air, and dirtier water for the tax payers.
These people are dollar bill robots out to suck as much money from the tax payers as possible despite the detriment to the tax payers health and livelihood. There motto is "let them eat cake".
10
As the article states, this action by the DoJ is meant to intimidate by forcing companies to spend money in litigation. What isn't stated is that the DoJ no longer is independent and acts in in the interest of the laws of the United States but in the interests of a small cadre of people. We should be very afraid.
21
Only under Trump would the EPA try to prevent states from enacting regulation to protect the environment. Apparently Trump thinks EPA stands for Environmental Pillaging Agency.
14
State rights...? Manufacturers get to decide what their future is...? The American public gets to choose where and how to spend their money...?
Who is pushing Big Brother / Nanny State / Deep State control? trump is the answer.
14
I do not understand and I have followed this story since the beginning. If a company wants to put into place stricter standards than the federal government why would the government object? This has never been clear to me.
7
@Katherine
Because it hurts the bottom line of the gasoline markets, they will sell less fuel.
Plus trump hates Obama so much, he has tried to undo everything Obama did. And higher mileage was something Obama set as a goal for the automakers.
2
So rather than embrace progress and excellence in the manufacture of automobiles and light trucks Trump wants to encourage mediocrity? That sends a great message to the youth of America.
14
Ebell was involved with lawsuits against regulating the tobacco industry before getting into the climate denial business. Fossil Fuel is Death.
9
Well maybe we can start to boycott Mercedes to illustrate the point.I thought the GOP was big on States Rights?
19
Currently in Beijing for a month. Pollution is so thick from car exhausts that you can see it. Is this what we want for our cities?
19
@CMS
Maybe trump thinks he can get into the oxygen business. He sells his hot air as 'clean' air.
obviously the auto industry cares more about fuel economy and the environment than trump or his war on the environment we have to live in. but now it's become painfully clear that the DOJ has become the de facto law firm of trump inc., refusing to investigate his many criminal activities and in turn become a weapon with which to persecute, intimidate and harass his political enemies and those who disagree with him.
18
Just imagine how Congressional Republicans would have howled if President Obama had unleashed federal investigators onto private businesses for such "wrongdoing"!
25
Strict fuel economy standards hurt Russia.
17
About 75% of the motives driving Trump policy is petty, vindictive, and designed to provoke outrage among the reasonable in the electorate. The remaining 25% is just insane. Of course it is absurd to weaken clean air guidelines. But by mobilizing the Justice Department to litigate this against everyone's better judgment, he fires up his base that can't think of anything better to do than to burn everything down.
18
It’s a shame that we can’t mandate stricter emission standards on the President.
18
“The motivation for the antitrust suit is to prevent car companies from voluntarily fighting climate change by limiting pollution,” said Ann Carlson, a professor of environmental law at the U.C.L.A. School of Law. “So it’s hard to call the D.O.J. position ‘in the interest of consumers.’”
Another one bites the dust. The D.O.J. can now be added to the smoldering pile of departments/agencies that have succumbed to Trump's siren song of corruption and abuse of power. Americans and America, sorry. Too bad for you.
9
"...Other legal experts and people close to the Trump administration agreed that the investigation was meant as a show of force to companies that have displeased the president...." God help anyone who dares to"displease" the emperor.
9
Car makers and California are just the part that trump loves as he swings at his enemies - always those with moral backbone, expertise, ingenuity, and guided by simple sustainability/efficiency - the antithesis of trump.
In reality, with trump it is all about oil and guns - and the billions of dollars his cronies make thanks to corrupt govt/colluding tactics.
Americans who voted for this crook are little by little destroying our country. How careless you all were betting on our future, children, land - all that is irreplaceable and priceless. Is it worth it yet, is your hate satiated yet?
Who will end these games, impeachment or hope for a fair election. With the $ wasted by this corrupt justice dept to punish those who offend this weakling president, we could have already made a dent into climate change...and feeding America's poor kids...or providing kindergarten.
Each day I just don't know what else they will do, it seems that we are living in a country no longer recognizable.
14
“But after the German government learned of the federal investigation into the other companies that had signed on, it warned Mercedes not to join, “
Germany and Mercedes: are you on the side of evil?
8
@W.H.
I think that they feared the DOJ and a costly lengthy court battle.
With the supreme court on the side of the now corrupt DOJ, Mercedes could be hit with costly fines. And thus bad for business in germany.
This is why I drive Japanese. I drive a Honda.
3
@Bar1
What does that mean?
3
I might have missed it here somewhere but a plausible reason for trumps action here is just to poke California in the eye. He can't stand California being so independent, point being he has threatened to not help with their forest fires. and I wonder if the fact that California is so blue. he is a very vindictive bully.
12
How on earth is this legal?
9
I thought Republicans were al about States' rights?
The Republican party is dead. It's the Trump party now.
11
What happened to Trump's and the Republicans' sacrosanct belief in the preeminence of States' rights? I've always assumed that a Republican fever dream was one in which the Federal government imposed restrictions on a State's ability to make its own regulations as it sees fit. I guess that just like aversion to deficit spending, belief in free trade and the importance of international security cooperation, States' Rights is just another pillar of Republicanism to be flushed down Donald Trump's golden commode.
11
I hope trump loses with record setting losses- the horribly backward actions of his wretched administration are reversed ( pray, in time) and it is recorded in history what an abominably terrible man and “president” he truly is and was.
God help us if these reversed environmental protections get much traction. Vote!!!
7
Everything Trump does is anti modern day advances in dealing with modern day problems. Trump is retreating to the last century, climbing into bed and putting a pillow over his head. The he gets mad because people want to stay ahead of the problems by modern methods of coping. Trump wants to retreat with his cronies,the oil magnets, to a older and more dirty and more uaware world. He likes the old world he grew up in. He does not want anything to do with the problems of today's world. Except that he likes to destroy things. This method of coping is senseless , useless and self defeating.
6
It sounds like Justice Department is being used for political payback by the White House.
9
Trump should be investigated for attempted murder of the people of the USA due to all his pollution rollbacks. That makes more sense than this nonsense.
8
Whatever happened to states rights? I thought the states were the laboratories of democracy? Apparently, when Republicans are in office they are not interested in states rights. Suddenly they want federal law to preempt California law. Just another hypocrisy exposed.
11
"L'etat c'est moi," Louis XIV. But Trump will pretend it is original.
6
Trump got his Roy Cohn in William Barr. Barr, I think, was an honorable man in his past life, but goes to show that everyone, or virtually everyone, gets tarred by association w/ this president.
2
@Jim R.
Barr was never honorable.
8
“Make Gas-Guzzlers Again”
2
so now our justice department is trump's goon squad now? and GOP, what about state's rights?
8
Justice Dept ? What Justice Dept ? The United States of America does not have a Justice Dept. Our Third World Banana Republic (with no bananas) has a Dictator led Inquisition Dept. where anyone that crosses His Highness Trump is immediately presumed guilty of something . . . anything !
4
I guess the GOP has abandoned "States rights". Except when it comes to abortion.
10
States Rights unless they’re Blue States!
11
Where is the “States Rights!” Republican Party?
8
There are no limits to Trump’s hatred of Obama. Amazing.
9
This is yet another clearer sign of GOP working for oligarch instead of America and American people.
They won't stop until they control rich blue states and make them poor like bible thumping red states to vote for them blindly.
Can't this be an act of treason? Why would even people of that specific department take any actions? This is a best place to start a non-cooperation strike like Gandhi did against Britishers.
8
Sue for lower gas mileage, bring back obsolete hight bulbs, drill in the Arctic, falsify hurricane charts. I can go on and on. The question is, how long are we going to put up with this buffoon of a president. Two more years is too long. lmpeach now!
8
corruption in ever corner of this degenerate administration.
5
Gosh, more and more the courts are going to make decisions for this Administration.
The White House will complain and try and convince the followers of Trump that he was right to push us further into carbon based global warming. Doesn't Donald know that if he succeeds in destroying the planet that his grand children will suffer? Does he care?
Let's hope the voters of this country and sick and tired of this belligerent, foolish man who currently occupies the White House.
5
This kind of legal Macchiavellianism illustrates why the next Democratic president must possess a tough mentality.
6
Pure vindictive politics....
5
Q: How do you get the Trump Administration to change a light bulb?
A: Tell them Obama put it there.
That's all this is; playground tit-for-tat.
13
@Cheez Leweez
That is a good one.
3
Can the Nytimes and other legitimate media retract all the stories about bill barr. the ones about him being a lawyer's lawyer, an institutionalize, a lover of the justice department.
That was fake news. He is a Repulican operative, and nothing more. I doubt he is even capable as a lawyer.
8
The Trump administration is working overtime to make sure that Putin's Pyrrhic Victory of 2016 will 'live in infamy'. This is beyond the pale but predictably Trump--venal, vengeful, nihilistic, ignorant. I hope the next President spares no aggressive and punitive actions for Trump, his family, the party of treason (GOP) and most importantly Russia, the Russian populace, the Russian oligarchs and Putin.
7
Every day a new outrage from Trump and his band of grifters and zealots.
7
While they're at it, why doesn't the Trump Administration mandate that teenagers smoke cigarettes in school and that Americans litter rather than use public trash cans.
6
The Republican assault on the free market continues
6
The real enemy of the people, and humankind, is the American president. I’m proud to say that we are an all BMW family.
8
For the few times that businesses do the right thing (which seems increasingly the case under this corrupt administration), Trump’s DOJ claims anti-trust ? when there are plenty of other corporations and industries (see telecommunications, for starters) limiting our current choices, but have Trump’s blessings.
Next thing, they’ll go after Walmart and other companies trying to limit gun sales and open carry as anti-second Amendment.
7
When the Trump administration first proposed this idea, they offered the absurd idea that higher mpg regulations would allow Americans to drive more and, thus, cause more road fatalities. Obama’s regulations called for 54.5 mpg by 2025, and California wants 51 by 2026, which seems to be a reasonable compromise for the auto industry, as well. In stark contrast, Trump wants regulations set at 37 mpg? It is easy to see that Trump’s ego is at stake here, but if we scratch the surface more deeply, we must ask the question, who would benefit most from lower standards? The best answer I have is the Oil and Gasoline Industry. It’s obvious to see that higher mpg standards would mean less gasoline consumption, and lower mpg would mean more consumption and more profits for the oil companies. If there is any collusion, the direction to look is between Trump and the oil companies, and NOT between California and the auto industry.
11
The SEC used similar threats to prevent financial institutions from doing something about guns. This is what happens when you have a government working *against* the people it supposedly represents.
13
This is a new chapter in Trump's corruption of the U.S. government and making it increasingly resemble an approach to governance more often found in the Third World than North America. In this case, AG Barr, a formerly honorable man, is leading the Justice Department in examining issue that is all politics and no substance. Imagine: companies conspiring with a state government to promote public health, reduced carbon emissions, and less pollution -- and all in full public view for many years.
I guess Barr decided he needed to do more than host his holiday party at Trump's hotel; he had to contribute to Trump's ongoing campaign to promote those practices that produce climate change and result in hurricanes that destroy island nations, cost taxpayers billions of dollars to repair military facilities, homes, and businesses, drive refugees from Central America to our border, and undermine our economy.
18
The car companies are doing the right thing. Working for customers and doing some good. Note that the Trump admin seldom does. What if Trump channeled his vengeful energies into fighting the NRA and getting effective gun legislation passed? Or working to solve the humanitarian problem at the border. Or. Or. Or...
18
A deal between the car makers and California, according to “people” in the Justice Department, “could potentially limit consumer choice. . .” Some folks may prefer a car that consumes only 31 gallons instead of one that uses 51 or 54 gallons per mile an hour, and I assume they would be Republicans, since they seem to favor this tactic, but I prefer the choice between a healthy environment and one that is gradually destroyed for the sake of a deregulated oil economy. Naturally I would choose the healthy environment for the sake of my daughter and her daughter.
8
Wow if this doesn’t smack of abuse of power I don’t know what does. Where are all those states rights Republicans now? It’s absurd to call this an antitrust investigation. There is long standing precedent for California and numerous other states to push the boundaries on emissions and for decades it hasn’t been considered anti competitive. What’s next: forcing companies to do away with decades old technologies that have reduced pollution, given us cleaner air and water, and better health? Trumps ego seems to know no bounds including using the Justice Department as his own personal vindictive apparatchik. It’s deplorable and one wonders when he’ll try to do the same with our military.
21
It the automakers want to give us cleaner vehicle let them!
What's next, are we going to attack them for more stringent safety efforts too?
24
Probably not out of the question.
All these business decisions Trump is trying to enforce lead one to wonder. He’s not going to be there forever, thank God, so why try to change things that will most certainly be changed back. Or does he think he is going to be there forever? The Chosen One.
9
If Obama's administration made a ruling, then Trump MUST overturn; if it reduces the likelihood of illnesses from the air we breathe, then trump MUST overturn; if it keeps corporations from dumping wastes into communities, then Trump MUST overturn; if it works towards weakening climate change and preserving the earth for everyone, then Trump MUST overturn; if it helps students preyed on by for-profit schools, then Trump MUST overturn; if it keeps the banks, which American taxpayers bailed out in the last recession, from going the same route, then Trump MUST overturn; if it is good, then Trump MUST overturn.
26
Curious sudden interest in antitrust action by a usually moribund, colluding DOJ, regardless the administration.
18
American businesses acting in concert to influence government regulation is routine across all industries. Using the Justice Department to harass and intimidate such efforts is decidedly not routine however this is just another week in the Trump presidency and there will be many more perversions to come. Unfortunately, this gross politicization of the Justice Department is not illegal. Until this administration, historical precedents, customs, principles and personal character stood in the way of this sort of cynical abuse of power. Those constraints have vanished, exposing the fragile nature of our institutions.
28
The Fed EPA clean air standards for automobiles contains language that state the manufacturers must *meets or exceeds* emission standards. Clearly, the California standard falls under the exceed standard and thus this investigation has no merit. This is another thuggish intimidation act authorized by Trump via his personal AG - Barr. Trump will be further enraged and be more irrational when he finds out the Feds have no standing since the companies have not formally signed an agreement with California.
21
Note to auto manufacturers... Those of you that don’t meet stricter California emissions standards will never see a dime from me.
36
Oddly enough, the auto industry isn’t wed to making Plymouth Furys. Here’s another thing. Sales are not great.
For those interested, this EPA page summarizes, in a nutshell, the supposed benefits of making vehicles less fuel efficient. Emphasis on the word "nut".
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100V26H.pdf
The "societal benefits" aren't explained. And, interestingly, there will be '"No noticeable impact to net emissions of smog-forming or other “criteria” or toxic air pollutants'. You won't notice what you don't look for.
7
This is beyond bizarre. California is breaking the law because their regulations are too strict? You’ve got to be kidding! What alternate universe do we live in?
23
According to the article, Mercedes-Benz avoided joining the California-led agreement with large auto manufacturers, on the German government’s instructions.
Wikipedia has a worthwhile entry on M-B’s corporate history. One link in the article is entitled, ‘list of companies involved in the Holocaust’. That and other histories mention the decades-long process that M-B underwent to regain a niche in the American auto market.
Perhaps M-B understands that its potential US buyers consider both world history and US climate politics. M-B’s US market niche could become vulnerable to a boycott.
3
Mr. Trump should be careful what he wishes for- this one may come back and bite him.
And to think we are still a year out from the election and this is how Mr. Trump is behaving. I shudder to think what he’ll be like in October of next year.
17
Since it has been shown scientifically that air pollution kills us, the DoJ’s argument will be that car companies should kill more people?
22
“Trump administration’s effort to drastically roll back Obama-era rules”
Revenge is everything for trump, he will travel the ends of the earth to erase everything Obama accomplished. He doesn’t care about the republicans, state’s rights, or the law, It’s revenge plain and simple.
12
Donald Trump and our so-called "Justice Dept." want dirtier air so badly they're willing to threaten auto manufacturers and the State of California. I grew up in Pasadena, Ca. and remember days with literally black skies. After playing outside my chest would hurt and a deep breath would make me cough.
Fortunately, those days are gone thanks to tighter emissions standards. I have no desire to see them rolled back by a cynical climate denier like Trump, and we'll see you in court.
25
This is all so exhausting. Sharpie-Gate this week and now we go on to (go back to?) rolling back motor vehicle emission standards. California and the Car companies snubbed Trump and now he wants to get even. Will this nightmare ever end?
19
What I can’t (for the life of me) comprehend is the absolute lack of personal integrity and of what I’d call moral compass this demonstrates. We all know Trump has none of any of that. And I’m pretty sure AG Barr is pretty deficient, as well. But what about the DOJ attorneys? Are they really behind this (in which case, they’re simply ignorant fools), or are they just doing their job (in which case they’re “yes” persons—i.e., technocrats and moral amoebas). As I recall, “I was just following orders” was one of the defenses commonly offered at Nuremberg. Remember that? It would seem we’re speeding back to the “good” old days of Berlin 1938-44.
16
The Justice Department, Trump’s personal enforcers. Are they going to investigate the National Weather Service next?
18
I’m have not been generally on the side of large corporations over private citizens or the government, but the part of that concerning “the government” just changed. I don’t know why Donald Trump and his lackeys hate the Earth's environment so much. It's probably as simple as hating the things that President Obama, a fine man and “woke” leader - the polar opposite of Trump - put in place so much that they are willing to forsake the environment and allow the planet upon which they, too, must live to burn and to drown. Indeed, they seem to want to accelerate the process. Now the Trump administration is undertaking its most brazen and ominous abuse of power yet in bringing its legal weight to bear against a sovereign state and four major corporations, who are trying to do something positive for the planet and the country. The administration cannot be allowed to get away with this. It is not far removed from donning brown shirts and jackboots and enforcing its will with violence. That day may be closer now. It is definitely coming. What they are doing to our “great” country is an utterly shameless crime.
8
"justice" department- go to jail - go directly to jail - do not pass go - do not collect $200.00.
4
They have no shame but we already knew that. Viva California!
15
Hardly what anti-trust laws are for. Such petty vindictiveness on the part of the current administration.
7
There are not words for the irresponsibility and nastiness of the Trump regime. These kleptomaniacs are committed to destroying the health and wellbeing of the American people in every way possible. Whether it’s denying them health care, making them breathe dirty air, or just forcing them to pay more at the pump to line the pockets of the drill baby drill industry, there are no limits to the lows they will reach.
9
Exactly how Putin would do it, sic his prosecutors after his enemies. I hope the auto companies have the fortitude to stand up to the bullying
7
On and on it goes. Sure tomorrow and so on and so on there will be more. Have been fun yet Americans?
3
Let the federal government decide how clean the air should should be in our states.
Let the states decide how much sovereignty a woman has over her own body.
This clearly illustrates what motivates the GOP. Lobby money and catering to right wing religious zealots. Enough hypocrisy, vote straight Dems in 2020.
11
I wish all states would join California in demanding strict automobile emission standards.
13
I thought these people were all in favor of free and open markets. Aren't they the ones always quoting Adam Smith?
6
This is so typical of Trump. To embarrass him in any way or to slight him and he will bring down his storm of Tweets on your head and if possible the wrath of the Justice Dept. as well.
Such a tiny tiny man to fill the shoes of great men before him.
6
The justice department is not a revenge tool for the president of the United States. We are just like any other country run by a fragile, egotistical authoritarian. American exceptionalism is officially dead.
7
Can I, am American citizen, sue the EPA for failing to protect the environment?????
11
@P R
Yes in a class action suit. Standing is the big problem, you have to prove that you personally will be hurt. Which with air pollution should not be too difficult to do.
Another problem is funding the effort, the government can outspend you. You would most likely need pro bono lawyers. But there should be enough civil rights lawyers to help.
Agencies have been sued before. It's just difficult to win such cases.
This just confirms that the Justice Department under the Trump regime isn't interested in justice when they push pro-pollution legislation forcing car manufacturers to harm the health and safety of the American people.
More greenhouse gases in the atmosphere add to global warming and more extreme climate change, much of it affecting the quality of the air we breathe. Adding fossil fuel by-products such as methane, benzene and carbon monoxide are killers of young children whose lungs are weaker and older people with respiratory illnesses.
A judge sitting on any federal court in the land should be mortified and ashamed of themselves if they allow this Trump putrefaction junta to poison millions of people at the behest and bidding of the petroleum behemoths and predatory, toxic polluters whose only interest is in increasing their bottom line profits.
But, then again, how can we expect the Star Chamber Supreme Court to side with the people when it is stacked with amoral individuals such as the lying-under-oath sexual assaulter Brett "what goes around comes around" Kavanaugh, porn-peddling sexual harrasser Clarence Thomas and the 3 other toady magistrates who wrote and decided in favor of the Koch brothers' despicable Citizens United ruling that corporations are people?
Louis D. Brandeis wrote, "We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
9
Republicans are all about states rights. Until they are not.
11
We no longer have a justice department that does its job for the country. Under Barr, it has become a part of Trump's fiefdom. Nothing is too ridiculous to proceed if the Fief wants you to.
5
Now renamed as the Environmental Destruction Agency, per Trump.
8
Remember when Republicans cared about "free markets"?
Remember when Republicans cared about "free trade"?
Remember when Republicans complained and argued against "government picking winners and losers"?
Yeah? Well, not so much, anymore. Welcome to Trumpworld.
8
How dare America’s corporations try to stop Trump from destroying the planet.
7
The Unjust Justice Department! Will no one stand up to our petty dictator?
4
Another example of DT the dictator. NO intention of being a democratic president.
4
Re your headline: Donald Trump embarrasses the United States every minute of every day, and I hope that he is out of office soon and that the Justice Department will be ordered by the next president (pray God it's not Pence) to drop this sham waste of taxpayers' money. Had enough yet, Republicans? Or will only the coming defeat and decimation of your party convince you that you hitched your pony to the wrong wagon?
7
Corporations wanting cleaner air is an anti-trust violation?
What kind of Orwellian nonsense is this?
7
I seriously doubt the GOP can think this way, but I will never, ever listen to a member of the Republican Party after seeing how inept their party leader is, and how incapable they (as a Party) seem to be in reeling this clown in.
I'm embarrassed to be an American. Thanks, Donald.
5
November 2020 can't come soon enough.
7
So now the Justice Dept, and I guess other agencies and depts will follow - have found new purpose in soothing Trump's fragile Ego? How is that their job? Massaging the soft underbelly of an oddly tinted swamp thing...?
Is this what happens in a blink of a historical eye? We just jump off the ledge? Not holding Trump's hand - but while he stands there and watches, helps encourage. He's too cowardly to jump himself, he just demands others jump in sacrifice to him.
He's such an obvious coward, its astounding that grown men and some women, who claim courage, who rally around the flag as a symbol of extended courage, who have long accused the Dems and Liberals, as being weak and unpatriotic...and recently Snowflakes...are rallying around this spineless, soft and childish old man!
I'd rather be a snowflake, then the toxic rain drops the Repubs and those allegedly nonpartisan, but wholly aligned Trumpolidites in various govt agencies, etc - are now.
Its astounding how fast the GOP fell. And with nary a whimper. Just Poof! I guess those straight backs they all claimed were just props. Held straight with broom handles and tape.
7
"President Sues Automakers to Force Them to Pollute Against their Will" reads Onion headline.
But it's not parody anymore.
8
So, the Trump administration can stop business from doing better, being safer, and/or meeting public and stockholder expectations for improving products?!
What a Trumped up America is this? Throw this overreaching man off the bus! REPUBLICANS: are you, too, this anti-industry?
6
The entire world will breathe easier when this toxic administration of an evil misanthrope falls, and it will have nothing to do with car emissions.
7
So much for State's Rights. 10 years ago that's all you heard from the Tea Party GOP. Now it's crickets as the Federal Government rides roughshod over them.
6
Whatever happen to Republicans purported belief in the magic of the market? There can’t be any doubt whatsoever that this was just a lie all along.
3
Well it is now official; William Barr has installed Donald Trump as our Sovereign. Donald Trump the 1st, is our new King.
From the Republican Party we hear only silence.
Republican Party is a Monarchist Party.
5
So will it then be illegal to buy a Tesla? This is just another Republican move to protect the oil companies. Next will be the rule to make people who have fireplaces use only coal. Make America sick again.
6
It is time for a secret service agent to fall on his sword and save this country.
5
Another distraction, guess who took the Lolita express to the island of sin...the Don..
1
Wonder how much it cost Marathon Oil for this freebie?
2
Yet another classic example of the corrupt, Mr. Trump using the Justice Department to serve his own selfish purposes.
2
Under Bill Barr, the Justice Department seems to have become the leader's personal law firm; Trump rules, not the law.
This is a sick administration.
6
Are they going to try and deport them as well? I’m kidding, but not really!
1
The stupidty here is quite entertaining. The biggest polluters think Trump is too dirty even for them....
The good news here is that there goes any chance for him to win Michigan again...!
3
Let's here it for state's rights!
2
Trump's troglodytes aren't going to scupper 21st century progress. Autos are built for the world masses … not just for the environmental destroyers that vote for Trump and his coal oligarch paymasters.
2
So much for the Republican mantra of states’ rights. Was a joke then. Is really a joke now.
2
Trump's cronies are making a fortune on his insider info, he calls them the night before on how he will use the massive power of the federal govt to go after his political enemies and reward his friends such as the fossil fuel industries etc. This is what an oligarchy /kleptocracy looks like Trump the greedy pig grabbing all the money he can.
3
The administration is not constrained by law or the familiar understanding of "moral."
States' rights can't coexist with a president who rules by tantrum, enabled by a Republican Party that demonstrates now only groveling fealty to a strutting fascistic demagogue.
Trump is dangerous to us all.
4
That the justice department is investigating should be reason to investigate Barr with the eye toward impeachment.
7
If this turns into an antitrust case, the automaker defendants should ask for a jury trial. Force Trump's DOJ to make its ridiculous and pernicious argument to a jury. Contrary to some people's belief, juries are not stupid.
4
Major automakers agreeing to stricter emissions standards? Well, we can't have that, can we?
Gotta nip that trend in the bud!
Next up? A return to leaded fuels. That's the MAGA spirit!
3
I guess this puts to rest the lie about "States Rights"
Extraordinary.
What's next from this petty tyrant? A justice department investigation into why Hurricane Dorian didn't hit Alabama? I wouldn't put it past him.
3
The presidential boot-licker Barr wants that future Supreme Court nomination so badly!
3
This is disgusting. He is like a cartoon villain bent on destroying the planet just to satisfy his fragile ego. My blood is boiling.
Good for those 4 companies. Next car I buy will be one of theirs.
5
Sounds like forcing your eleven year old to drink beer with you because you don't like drinking alone. "You'll get to like it; look at me".
2
Well you have to give trump credit for perseverance. He’s bound and determined to destroy the planet before we throw the bum out.
1
The Justice Department has run amuck.
Don’t they hav better things to do— like process detained
would- be immigrants?!
Dear Nancy Pelosi,
An update on the removal of the criminal POTUS is way overdue. Impeachment, treason, tax fraud, and the 25th Amendment are all valid and should be acted upon. Why are the American people getting the silent treatment?
Signed-The Majority of Americans
4
Using the Justice Department to achieve his ends. This is what living with a corrupt administration and feckless partisan congress looks like. The ridiculousness of this action is really not describable.
1
These automakers are trying to do two things: make a profit and plan for the future. And the future consists of low emission vehicles. They recognize the folly of going backward both from and economic point of view as well as environmental. And yet the President calls AG Barr and demands the DOJ investigate companies who have the temerity to question his judgement on emission standards. I have already seen his first salvo: stupid car manufacturers who want to make cars costing consumers thousands more.
Who will Mr. Trump and his minions come for next?
Come on Mercedes Benz, don't buckle to Trumpian threats. You'll just have to redesign in 2020.
4
What happened to the republican love of state rule!
2
I’m very confused. I heard the so called “Green” Party candidate in 2016 tell us Clinton and Trump were the “same”.
Is it possible she was just a demagogue and a hack?!!!
5
@Will.
Yes, those are polite words for it...
And I know this is water WAY under the bridge, but we can remember, come election 2020, to thank the Naderites for saying the same about Gore and W. They denied us the first enviromentalist prez and brought us total insanity and Cheneyism in the Middle East instead. And we're still there.
Attorney General Barr is a busy man these days, what with whitewashing the Epstein murder and being Trump's toadie. It's a surprise then that he even has the time to throw a party at one of Trump's hotels at taxpayers expense. A bloated, corrupt official almost out of fiction.
1
Next time some GOPer rants about free markets, remind them of the DJT DOJ doing the opposite.
Republicans want dirty air and they will sue those auto companies to make sure they get dirty air!
Let's hear it for state's rights!
?? I thought Republicans were "small government" advocates that wants the federal government out of the business of regulating private businesses.
I also thought the republicans were defenders of "states rights" that keeps the federal government's noses out of how states run their internal affairs.
I guess that all goes out the window if it puts Charles Koch's dark money at risk.
Under Barr, the DOJ seems to have become a bunch of integrity-free lackeys carrying water for their Master.
More companies should stand up and give Trump the big middle finger. That would actually help restore America's greatness.
1
Using the "Justice" department as a weapon to increase pollution. Yay.
It is difficult to fathom the amount of stupidity in this story considering that oil is still a finite resource with limited life left and Trump Inc. wants to ensure that life time is as short as possible. (stupidity)^2.
Future historians will shake their heads in bewilderment...if a society that can still read exists.
1
Trump doesn’t have a problem with either California or the auto industry. His problem is with Obama. When Obama pealed the hide off him at the Correspondent’s Dinner in 11, Trump started looking for payback. He had to run for president to get it. Trump is a lousy excuse for a president because he’s a lousy excuse for a man, but, he doesn’t care. Those who claim Trump has no agenda are wrong. His agenda is to destroy, tear down, eliminate every last vestige of the Obama presidency. The rest of this disgusting display is window dressing.
2
The last time something like this happened, the public bought the "Hope&Change" narrative, hook,line&sinker. But, all we got was "Bait&Switch". Not a single individual ever went to prison for coming this close to tanking the economy. Not a One!!
Now, here we go ... it's deja vu all over again.
It's a cliche, but boy, is it relevant .... "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"
1
@FrankV
I was wondering all the way down this comments section if someone could possibly rationalize a way to defend the Trumpsters on this one. The above false equivalency comes pretty pretty close I guess.
The GOP......
....the party of "State's Rights".
I am fairly sure the push to roll back the regulations stem largely from oil companies who have seen their future growth threatened by cleaner and leaner transportation.
At this point, the auto manufacturers who are being threatened should try to sue the oil companies who have lined GOP coffers under RICO because this abuse of presidential power is a racket to the core.
1
Okay let's talk about what is the good of the people.
Air and water that are clean by virtue of appropriate natural processes are good things for all people.
A government that fosters such good things is doing the right job there.
A judiciary that backs that up is what we need now, one that sends a clear message dissuading future interferences.
I'm I right?
1
This latest embarrassing Trump Administration debacle will be ultimately fought in the courts to run out the clock until the Trump Administration is shut down in 2020.
The next Administration will return the EPA from the Environmental Pollution Agency back into the Environmental Protection Agency.
3
This would be ironic if it weren't so serious. At the same time the Trump administration is doing another end-run around Congress by transferring funds from military projects approved by Congress to the border wall project, they write a letter to California saying that California is overstepping its bounds by trying to set fuel standards. The administration says that power is "squarely vested" with Congress, so did they consult with Congress before they decided to roll back the fuel economy standards, or any of their other environmental rollbacks? Trump clearly doesn't care about Congress's powers unless it is in his personal interest to do so.
2
Limit customer choice?! The Justice Department can not seriously think that antitrust laws can be used to force companies to make cars that use more gas and emit more pollution. This is a frivolous investigation and pure harassment to satisfy an out of control megalomaniac. Moreover the biggest takeaway from this is the the Justice Department is no longer the US Justice Department it is now just another paid hack for a lawsuit/investigation happy client. Luckily for us this will likely end like most of Trump’s lawsuits - he’ll back down or he’ll lose.
2
This is the second effort Donald Trump has made to prevent businesses from "Doing Business." Demanding American companies cease business with China now intimidating and launching an investigation into auto maker's decision to manufacture lower emission vehicles to meet California standards:I forgot; this is the landlord who lobbied against a law to retro fit buildings with sprinkler systems and didn't have any in his building that caught on fire last year-killing a tenant.
3
Another attempt by the president to erase a piece of Obama legislation. Not because it benefits the country in any way, but because of his pathological hatred of his predecessor. For that he's willing to sacrifice the nations health care, its international relations, its environment, its nature reserves and even world peace.
3
We are the United States of America, not the States of the Federal Government.
Everything goes back to oil.
The Republicans are surely the Party of "Red".
The use of the federal government in support of a fossil fuels industry indicates corruption and reflects badly on a Justrice Department that is anything but. It is a good indication of what prompted Barr's decision in the Mueller investigation.
The Republicans are in deep with the Russians, since 1963.
2
Perhaps Trump’s lawyers will *try* to argue that collusion between manufacturers will lead to more expensive vehicles, but they will not succeed. More polluting trucks and SUVs are also more expensive and give car companies bigger profit margins. That’s a well established fact. Smaller, more efficient vehicles generally cost less and are sold as the ‘economy’ option.
Higher emissions standards drive innovation, give consumers cheaper vehicle options, and they also help save the environment. It’s a win win situation. Trump has somehow managed to turn that into a lose lose situation where we no longer have the incentive for innovation, have to pay more, and destroy the environment all at once. Which to Trump is just another day at the office I suppose ... he does seem to have a penchant for walking into no win situations.
4
So I was under the assumption that the Republican Party was in favor of a market driven economy. If a gas gussler costs more to manufacture would that also mean that the people that want the low emissions and better fuel economy should be able to get them? Are the oil companies and there shareholders really wanting to use all of a finite resource now or should it become a dinosaur and force us to go green like it or not. I’m confused
He acts like he has a mandate, when in fact he lost the popular vote. The majority of US citizens wants to have cleaner cars, cleaner air, and a livable planet for the foreseeable future. It is unconscionable that this man can use the resources of the federal government (our tax dollars) to satisfy his own whims at the expense of the health and safety of his constituents. There is no justice.
14
Another example of the bizarre world in which the Trump administration and the Republican voter resides. The Trump administration is creating such a laundry list of anti-environmental policies that, if properly marketed by the Democrats, non-Trump voters will be even more motivated to go to the polls.
4
This is how soft fascism builds. The "leader" demands feasance from business, in return for laissez-faire regulations. Trump will push this to the limit, if the car companies don't cave, because he needs to keep big companies under his thumb.
The DoJ politicized the ATT Time Warner deal, as a way to punish CNN. They'll probably go after Amazon, because of WaPo. How many CEOs does Trump called, to make them toe lines? Has the DoJ reviewed Walmart's decision on fire arms?
Soft fascism needs big business behind it, because most people work for them. That's why people fall in line, because they think their economic security depends on it.
Companies are conservative. They will not challenge a leader they think could hurt them. The real test is the 2020 election. If Trump loses, he'll appeal to his followers, refusing to concede. At that point corporate power will matter. If they think he's a dead weight, they'll pour resources into getting rid of him. If they worry he could survive, they'll go silent.
Living in interesting times.
2
As a matter of antitrust law, this is mind-boggling. Pity the lawyers who are ordered to prosecute this.
6
It will be a wonderful day when the person in the highest seat of the land and their administration is not trying to systematically dismantle just about every piece of environmental and consumer protection law/policy we have made in the last 100 years.
I have never seen anything so self serving. Not only do they not have the interests of others (including the people that got them elected) at heart, but are actively working to make just about everything worse with a blinding amount of antipathy. How can 39% of people continue to view this favorably?
10
@qwerty I’m waiting for the for sale signs on Yellowstone and Yosemite it will really make America great again
3
Our comfortable 5 passenger hybrid averages 55 mpg.
Driving 10k miles per year uses 182 gallons of gas.
Our non-hybrid vehicle averages 20 mpg if we are lucky.
Driving 10k miles per year uses 500 gallons of gas.
That's a difference of $8,600 over ten years of use.
6
Trump, Barr, McConnell, and the Republican Party vs. America.
There are reports that they are also succeeding against the FBI and the intelligence community.
They believe that they can succeed.
We shall see.
8
Really, an agreement that is more aggressive than what 45 wants is bad? What's next, moving back to incandescent light bulbs instead of more efficient LED bulbs?
11
@Chris I. It’s already in the works
@Chris I.
Actually, they are doing that as well.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/climate/trump-light-bulb-rollback.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
2
@Chris I.
We didn't have to wait long for that one! lol
What's next, moving back to coal instead of solar, wind and natural gas? Oh wait ...
3
So, if I understand this correctly, these manufacturers are accused of colluding to obey the law. Is that right?
14
California has the world's 5th largest economy, and would do just fine as an independent nation. Trump will not be able to intimidate them.
8
What's happened to the GOP tenet favoring state's rights about laws within its borders? Our air in LA is sooooo much better since the advent of clean air emission standards adopted by CA years ago. Our state sets standards for clean air the GOP has no right to change.
15
Restraining consumer choice? No way. Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Packard models are still available without any pollution controls. Not to mention Studebaker.
6
@Texas Trader, heh.
And if the car has seat belts, you don't have to buckle them. maga
Interestingly, the EPA summary claims that poorer fuel economy will improve auto safety, because more people will buy new cars than they otherwise would do. Each new car will be at least $2,000 less expensive than a similar car with better fuel economy.
1
@Texas Trader, heh.
And if the car has seat belts, you don't have to buckle them. maga
Interestingly, the EPA summary claims that poorer fuel economy will improve auto safety, because more people will buy new cars than they otherwise would do. Each new car will be at least $2,000 less expensive than a similar car with better fuel economy.
eta: yikes. I hope it's obvious that my comment is ironic.
3
We can all tell that Trump's birther nonsense didn't insult your intelligence.
The only thing about this situation that keeps me from screaming in despair is that I have seen the cost of solar power come down by two orders of magnitude since the 1970's (From $75/watt to less than $0.07/watt).
The cost of wind-generated electricity has been coming down too, not at the same speed, but every year it gets cheaper.
The cost of batteries for electrical vehicles will hit a point some time in the next two to five years where a Battery Electrical Vehicle will be the same price or cheaper than an Internal Combustion engine vehicle.
Electric cars charged by clean, renewable energy will - eventually - solve the climate crisis.
Alas, Trump and his fossil fuel cronies are not leading, they are not following, but instead they are standing in the way.
They. Must. Go.
27
@Bob from Sperry The next, and possibly most important development for electric vehicles, will be the development and widespread adoption of double layer capacitors. Which can store MUCH more energy, can be made into any 3D shape, and will NOT use lithium, or other rare earth elements. Right now Lamborghini is the only car manufacturer making this first step. THAT future is indeed "bright". If we only had a government with real foresight and capacity (no pun intended) to invest in the U.S. position on this development. There are military applications, as well (obviously).
4
Thanks Slann double layer capacitors or super capacitors sounds interesting. I will research
And here I thought the Republicans, of whom Donald Trump is the presumed "leader", were ardent supporters of states' rights. Isn't that one rationale for allowing sales of assault weapons to private citizens?
24
@Karen Lee
Now hold on. Before we accuse them of inconsistency, let's think this one through. In both cases they're in favor of unrestricted pollution across state lines - one in the form of firearms, and the other fossil fuel emissions. To be fair, they're very consistent on the pro-pollution front.
5
@Karen Lee
Don't forget the crown jewel of "states rights."
Control of a woman's uterus.
2
As a parent and citizen of this planet, I can only applaud the forward thought process of California. The standards proposed by California should serve as a model for every state of the union.
Our world is seriously ill and it is our actions today, that will decide if our world is to recover, or die.
22
can litigation against states w/ higher minimum wage than federal minimum be long in following this?
13
@APS, please don't give the Secretary of Labor / DoL any new ideas. They probably have enough things on their plate, to make life worse for working people.
5
How is this not a case of trump using government resources to attack what he does not like?
20
@John Belanger It is. What he "doesn't like" is anyone in the mirror not him. That the Obama administration continued the logical, positive process of reducing fossil fuel pollution from vehicles, specifically, is on today's "hate list". WE (all humans) are the losers here.
2
@John Belanger It is. What he "doesn't like" is anyone in the mirror not him. That the Obama administration continued the logical, positive process of reducing fossil fuel pollution from vehicles, specifically, is on today's "hate list". WE (all humans) are the losers here.
It seems any auto maker can set higher mileage standard without an “agreement” with CA or any other state. So they should just cancel the unofficial agreement and independently make cars with higher mileage. No collusion.
15
Agreements don’t have to be signed to violate antitrust laws. An implicit understanding is enough.
@Bruce Thomson
Is it really collusion to agree to follow the standards set by a state? That is what business does all the time when states set regulations for businesses.
"Now, the Justice Department is investigating whether the four automakers violated federal antitrust laws by reaching a deal with California, on the grounds that the deal could potentially limit consumer choice..."
---
Ah, yes. We should all have the "choice" to purchase vehicles, and anything else, that is less efficient, less environmentally friendly, less than good, and just Less Than.
After all, we have a Less Than President: less than truthful; less than honorable; less than concerned about public welfare; less than worried about draining His Swamp; less than worthy to be President...yep, just Less Than.
28
@DKM, less than intelligent, less thank literate, less than a good speaker ...
the list goes on and on, just like one of Donald Trump's tweet-storms.
@DKM, @DKM, less than intelligent, less than literate, less than a good speaker ...
the list goes on and on, just like one of Donald Trump's tweet-storms.
Let’s face it. The Justice Department is launching an Anti-Trump inquiry, not an Anti-Trust inquiry.
12
Is there a good comparison with the Tobacco Industry here? This could help California win the case, wouldn’t it? Didn’t some cities and states put stricter smoking rules into effect than others?? New York City has extremely strict laws for smoking in public places while other cities do not. Plus the tax on a pack of cigarettes is much higher in New York City than other places. Not sure I’m right here but wanted to throw that out there.
4
@Charles Baran I'm not aware that cigarette manufacturers ever agreed to anything except as part of a legal settlement. But maybe this means legal settlements by more than one company at a time would also be illegal in Trump's universe.
1
As a Californian who has to endure many "spare the air" days due in large part to vehicle emissions, the idea that we need looser pollution controls is utterly ridiculous. We don't want to go back to the days where LA was hidden by thick clouds of smog, but it's still bad in many areas. Many in this state are doing their part. EVs are everywhere now. I was an early adopter of a Tesla model S (vin in the low 5000's). Now I see them everywhere and their popularity is only increasing. Part of this is due to the state's laws and encouragment of cleaner alternatives.
The up-front cost of more efficient vehicles is higher but the long-term cost is lower with less money spent on fuel. All of the recent climate-related disasters only emphasize the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our state has been hit hard by drought and fires (and no, raking the forests won't help there).
Republicans like to scream that it's not possible or not worth it. While we can't stop what already is forecast, we can prevent it from being much worse. California is ahead of schedule when it comes to green power and the forefront when it comes to combatting climate change.
14
This is part of a program to reduce the cost of producing fossil fuels---regulatory rollbacks--- and increasing the demand for fossil fuels---reducing subsidies for clean energy while increasing subsidies for fossil fuel industry.
Former EPA Secy Pruitt's "consulting" agreement for major coal producer and the disgraceful interior Dept employee who was influential in opening up Alaska for more environmental abuse for more fossil fuels exploration should anger us all.
The failure of Justice Dept and the Senate to address these abuses of power should impress upon citizens that elections have consequences. Laws are meaningless when they are not enforced. The Justice Dept and the Senate are acting like subsidiaries of Trump Inc instead of being faithful to their oath and their real employer---us.
14
@DB
You are right - the Republicans in Congress are so lacking in any kind of courage that they just rubber stamp whatever trump demands.
Maybe Senate Republicans - led by Moscow Mitch - should just leave a rubber stamp on their desks and go home.
What bother to show up in the Senate, just let trump do whatever he wants?
These spineless Republicans with no ethics must be voted out of office, along with their evil master, trump.
Vote!
3
Remember the "cash for clunkers" program? Perhaps Trump should sign an executive fiat -- I mean, executive order -- requiring private citizens to sell their new, fuel-efficient cars.
That'll show 'em.
6
The US auto industry collapsed because its leadership clung to the past and could not compete with more fuel efficient cars made in Europe and Asia. The Administration's ignorance of the past is dooming us to repeat it.
10
State rights - isn't that what the Republicans want? California has elected to pursue a wise course and the car manufacturers do not want to spend money on the conceptual design and production of gas guzzling, carbon dioxide spewing vehicles that no one wants. If Kentucky wants such vehicles to contaminate the clean mountain air, Mitch McConnell can offer a bill to allow removal of the advanced catalytic converters and mufflers by all the states who want to force the educated population to leave their state and move to California
14
Time for states to counter-sue the EPA and the Executive branch for failing to negligently moving to worsen aur quality standards.
12
@dmckj
And their standing would be that air pollution doesn't stay where it is produced, it moves.
And there is a precedent. NY and other eastern states sued the mid-west coal burning states because of acid rain. They won the suit and the mid-west had to change their stacks so that the pollution didn't cause acid rain over the eastern states.
It took a few years, but acid rain is not the problem that it used to be in eastern states.
Perhaps the courts will assist team Trump with understanding that states are free to set standards above and beyond constitutional and regulatory minimums?
20
And Trump's effort at creating more pollution wasn't a PR stunt?
9
Anyone with an iota of common sense--or business acumen--knows that limiting production options for a given product will keep costs of production low--and profits higher--than making several versions of the same product for different markets.
Keeping emissions low permits U.S. automakers (both domestic and foreign) able to export product and sell it anywhere.
What part of this does the "Great Businessman" who went bankrupt six times understand? What part of this do his stooges and collaborators understand? NOTHING.
46
And this action by the Justice Department benefits the people of the United States in what way? How does relaxing emissions standards benefit Americans? And who is in favor of that? Apparently not the automobile manufacturers.
The Justice Department is going to have to explain how they are representing the American consumer in an antitrust action, and they will have the same challenge they faced with the Census question. It's pretty obvious the motivation of this action is the vanity of the president who is trying to undo something done by his predecessor
23
Now consider what this says about the "objectivity" of Barr's claim that the Mueller Report exonerates the President. Anyone who thinks it was objective needs first to get past this joke about being an Attorney General.
17
It isn’t the automakers that need to be investigated, it’s the Justice Department, specifically William Barr, that needs to be investigated.
40
And this poor excuse of an administration.
4
@Momo
He wants to be on the Supreme Court, expecting two more openings.
Since coal isn't coming back )and more plants have closed under Trump vs. Obama), the current occupant of the White House needs to shore up his donor base (i.e. big oil) somehow.
7
The only reason the DOJ is investigating is because Trump told the political appointee, Barr, to investigate. There is no way Barr would win any anti-trust arguement in front of any judge anywhere. Barre will be guffawed out of court, and I imagine any serious lawyer with a career in mind would never bringing forth such charges for fear of being ridiculed behind their backs
14
I fear you haven’t taken into account how many judges have been appointed under the Trump regime.
@Jeffrey Baker Case has been brought in California. But yes, your point is valid, though it is the height of folly to believe that the auto industry wouldn't beat the charge that suddenly switching from high to low emissions cars wouldn't actually COST them billions in order for they to dumb down all the manufacturing machinery, materials tooling and processes, as well as its quality controls, and standards to produce cars with lesser pollution controls. And how ridiculous will that look that VW gets slapped to the tune of multi-billions in fines for circumventing the standards with defeat device, only to have the DOJ turn around and say, sorry? I can imagine a scenario where VW sues the US Government for their situation. Bottom line, everyone knows Trump will not get elected, and more than likely he will be indicted and go to jail. Republicans have started abandoning ship with retirements. Even Moscow Mitch will likely retire rather than loose re-election running against his expected opponent, a women former US fighter Pilot.
At what point do the republicans show some moxie and start showing concern for the climate and the well-being of their constituents? (I'm not going to hold my breath)
19
You might have to with all that extra pollution!
2
The Sherman Antitrust Act provides in sweeping terms that “Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade . . . is declared to be illegal.” It is difficult to imagine a clearer antiturst violation than an agreement among four major automakers to restrict the characteristics of vehicles to be offered to consumers. The fact that some may view the combination as serving a "worthy" goal of reducing emissions is of no moment whatsoever.
@Ken Margolis in this case "restraint of trade" is in th es ye of the beholder.
Isn’t it an agreement made by automakers with California and not with each other?
1
Simple. There is no restraint of trade.
The assumption is that DOJ lawyers will likely argue that the car companies “could end up imposing a more expensive range of cars for sale nationwide.” If Trump is worried about vehicle costs, then perhaps reversing aluminum and steel tariffs would be a more effective response.
And whatever happened to Republicans being the champions of states’ rights’? Republicans have shown that states’ rights are only a concern if it’s something Republicans approve.
31
@PW
More to the point, that the GOP is a champion of states' rights when the issue concerns state's compliance with rules that their state (and the Republican Party) opposes, like, say, civil rights findings by the federal government in Arkansas or Alabama fifty years ago, still burning a hole through every argument with federal regulation until a state like California presents an argument that crosses Republican dogma in favor of conservation, climate change, energy efficiency and self-reliance.
Uh oh!
7
since when has anyone been forced to buy a more expensive car?
@PW -
Conservatives’ “State’s Rights” hypocrisy was forever exposed in Sandra Day O’Connor’s swing vote in Bush v. Gore.
Conservatives and the GOP have no principles and it is counterproductive to think that they might.
Let us all not be surprised when we hear the Justice Department is "looking into" whoever becomes the Democratic Party nominee.
36
Wow! Our current Administration is actually fighting AGAINST fuel efficiency to placate Trump's ego.
Worst thing is how normal this seems now...
44
@Nancy Shields
No, not normal. It feels truly insane.
1
I can’t say I’m surprised at this. It doesn’t matter whether this has any chance in court. It is just political signaling prior to the 2020 election. It’s Trump telling his knuckle-dragging base that he’ll protect their fossil fuel jobs against all reason and economics.
This will probably fail, as will his nullification of the CA waiver. If they thought they could take away the waiver, they would not have pulled this desperate stunt.
If by some strange chance the administration prevails in court, we in CA will both demonize and and boycott any car company that won’t meet our goals. We can also impose onerous inspection requirements on any vehicle that doesn’t meet our goals, and we can refuse to allow them to be driven on state and local roads. I doubt seriously that any car company wants to anger the CA market. They would be fools to go along with Trump.
26
@Jazz Paw
They would be fools because they know the Europeans are phasing out gas cars in a short period of time and the Chinese are way ahead in Evs and have a high tax on gas-powered vehicles. The companies know they can either keep up with where the world is heading or fall behind.
And they aren't fools. The man in the White House is another story.
If we had representatives in Congress who could govern -- you know, discuss, compromise, make laws -- we wouldn't have to worry about government by fiat from left-wing and right-wing dictators, to be reversed when the next right-wing or left-wing dictator was elected. I wonder what that would be like?
3
These new bullying tactics are alarming when considered with the EPA shutting down off-shore wind farms for "environmental" concerns, and administration tactics against banks working to place limits on financed gun purchases.
Clearly the administration, especially the department of justice, are now abusing their power by retaliating against private enterprise that dont conform.
What is especially troubling they now have the courts to back their dastardly deeds.
14
My thoughts are that that last year of Trump’s Presidency will be very scary.
21
@Areader, it can get worse?
@Areader
2020 or 2024? Cause one is much scarier than the other.
1
So this is what it comes down to; the Justice Department investigates businesses which bruise Trump's fragile ego? We're rapidly turning into a banana republic.
28
We cannot allow Trump’s irritations to be grounds for national policy. His pettiness is our ruin.
19
What happened to getting rid of the "Deep State". Trump is the Deep State. Time to start gathering evidence for a Nuremberg type trial after Trump leaves next year, of Trump, his henchman and private policeman, Barr and anyone else that is violating worldwide norms related to climate change denial. At this point, anyone who is denying climate change when we need to act is committing crimes against humanity and should be tried in a Hague world court.
17
Bizarro world.
Investigated for doing the right thing.
19
This whole situation is another obscene example of just how corrupt and ignorant the GOP and Donald Trump are about climate change and responsible environmental stewardship.
That the DOJ is wasting tax payer dollars to persecute California and auto manufacturers for reaching an accord to maintain higher fuel and emission standards demonstrates just how compromised the DOJ has become under William Barr's appointment as Attorney General. Barr is Trump's designated hit man – a subtler version of Roy Cohn to be sure but a man willing to abuse the power of his position to carry out politically motivated investigations against Trump's political enemies. That is an unconstitutional abuse of authority. Both men need to be removed from office in a manner that makes very clear the U.S. presidency is not an imperial monarchy with a King and ministers immune from the law. Impeachment comes to mind.
13
@Twg
Both Barr and Trump should be cellmates.
As if the Justice Department didn't have actual inquiries to pursue...
12
It is worthwhile to read up on the bizarre person, Myron Ebell, quoted in this article, who headed the Trump EPA takeover, and is now the Director of Global Warming (seriously) at CEI. I shudder to think of the role model he provides for his four children, this fellow whose history includes fighting against tobacco regulation, against endangered species regulations, against climate change minimization. I recognize that it is not considered unusual for someone whose money comes from "Competitive Enterprise Institute" to express himself as the wholly owned mouthpiece for right wing causes. Dont these people have any shame?
17
I can’t bear to read this article. Auto emissions, light bulbs, restrictions on public land use, health insurance cut backs-it seems like there is a room in the White House where members of this administration just hang out and dream up ways to destroy the environment, ruin our health, and jeopardize our future. Don’t any of them have children? I hate, hate, hate this administration.
37
Anti-trust?
What?
As far as I know any company can make their product as clean and efficient as they want.
This is another sample of what a 13 year old psychotic is capable.
We are in serious trouble.
14
Do not buy any car from any company that does not join the California standard.
20
The administration is in full pout. I support CA unequivocally as well as the car companies. I fully expect the courts to bounce this case in CA’s favor.
17
I guess this is a new campaign promise, to make the air in this country dirty again.
This clash between Trump and CA would make sense if Ca were making deals that would allow greater pollution but, incredibly, it's just the opposite.
We have a psychological cripple running this country and he intends to increase disease and death of US citizens just for the purpose of assuaging his crushing mental health issues.
15
Legal experts and people close to the Trump administration said the investigation was meant as a show of force to companies that have displeased the president.
______________
Well, isn't that great? Billy the bully Barr jumps through another hoop to please the Duck. Mitch applauds. Lindsey smiles. The base loves it. For now. Where will these corporations spend their campaign funds next year?
12
I’m sure I remember many conservative Republicans stating that civil war was fought over states rights and not the right to own another human the same as a horse. Trump and his enabler Moscow Mitch need to go into the ash bin of history and soon.
13
This is without doubt a political abuse of the Justice Department. Republicans should feel ashamed but won’t because all they care about is money and privilege.
8
This sentence is remarkably unclear: “The Trump administration is moving to drastically roll back Obama-era rules designed to reduce emissions from cars and light trucks that contribute to global warming, an effort major automakers have publicly opposed.”
What is the effort automakers have opposed? Trump’s moves or Obama-era rules? Come on New York Times make it easy on your readers.
3
This is very simple: if Obama built it, it must be torn down.
4
Dept. of Justice and Barr, trump's personal law firm. You think Barr would have realized that once you're in bed with trump there is no bottom to the things he expects from you. Hitching your wagon to trump and there is only one way to go, down.
9
Let the car companies know there will be lots of work to be done on day 1 of the next administration and they may want to think about having the retool/redesign automobiles in 16 months.
8
Since when is it ok to take away a states power to make its own laws regarding pollution? Also arent the republicans always against government interfering with business? Seems to me they have been supporting of hurting business the same as democrats. If you are going to the same thing, at the very least do it in favor of the populations health. Our health care is already inflated enough.
4
But Trump touts himself as Savior of the Environment. Never has cleaner water or air flowed through our great lands.
3
@Rob, and that pristine clean water is used to rinse of the coal, to make it be the most beautiful and cleanest coal ever.
In fact, many people are saying that the clean coal is clear, and sparkles like diamonds. OK, that clean coal actually IS diamonds.
@Rob, and that pristine clean water is used to rinse off the coal, so it becomes the most beautiful and cleanest coal ever.
In fact, many people are saying that the clean coal is clear, and sparkles like diamonds.
OK, the clean coal actually IS diamonds.
I am a retired lawyer and had extensive exposure to the antitrust laws in the course of my career. (Full disclosure - I worked in the DoJ's Antitrust Division as a law student). In my opinion, this is a stretch as a matter of antitrust theory and smacks of retribution - maybe even petty retribution disguised as something serious - against those companies that had the nerve to pursue an arrangement with California contrary to the wishes of the Trump Administration. Like any prosecutorial body, the DoJ has limited resources and must carefully prioritize when exercising its enforcement discretion. This announcement is part of a broader series of action that at least suggest that the DoJ - once one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the world - has been reduced to a settler of scores/righter of perceived wrongs for an angry President. To quote that President, "Sad!".
25
I spent my childhood in California at a time when life in Los Angeles due to smog produced by auto emissions was the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for each man, woman, and child. Californians know something about the consequences of air pollution. The Golden State (including Orange County) became the hazy brown state when the auto companies ripped out the electric train system and replaced clean transportation with diesel fume emitting buses. I know because I lived right next to a desolate "Electric Avenue" in Seal Beach.
The activity of the DOJ is maniacal and I would hope that men and women of conscience would resign their positions rather than go along with this criminal assault on innocent populations. This has as much to do with freedom, justice, and the rule of law as the enforcement of Dred Scott did - i.e. nothing at all.
The Trump administration has taken upon itself the perverse mission of destroying the lives and health of millions of Americans. I hope people are conscious of this when they vote in November 2020.
24
In the dystopian world the EPA sues companies for cleaner, not dirty, air.
Welcome to Trump World.
30
DT has a significant track record - before this current reality show - of using the courts and the threat of legal action to get his way, no matter what. Nothing new here.
DT: let's dismantle the government. Wait,we've got nearly unlimited resources available for whatever we want to do. OK let's not.
9
The California Air Resource Board, an unelected body headed by environmental warrior Mary Nichols for decades now, entered into an agreement with four carmakers to regulate interstate commerce. How's that not usurping the federal government's power?
2
It is not usurping the Federal Government because the automakers have a choice on whether or not to follow CARB standards. It should, and will be, be up to the consumer to decide” Do I want a car from a manufacturer that complies with California Standards, or do I want one from a manufacturer that doesn’t?” No Ant-Trust here, just a guy who gets upset too easily.
20
@John Smithson
It's not interstate, it's intrastate. CA is merely exercising it's right to impose it's own standards. CA is not forcing the auto cos. to do anything. CA is not forcing the automakers to change what they make for other states.
If the automakers want a CA market though, they must make autos for that state. Or let some other company take the business.
And CA is not usurping any power from the fed. The law that was passed quite clearly states a state can make stricter standards if they desire. And that is what CA is doing, using the law to have stricter standards.
Congress gave that power to the states, they would have to pass another law to repeal it. CA has for many years been setting stricter standards regarding pollution than the federal government. It wasn't until the child in chief decided he hated Obama so much that anything Obama did had to be destroyed.
Hopefully this tantrum child will be out on the street in 2020. So we can go back to decency.
@John Smithson
"Enviromental warrior"? Ooooh that sounds really bad!
Imagine the nerve of some upitty woman standing up against the Scott Pruitts and Bill Barrs of the world just to try to actually represent the common interests of............... wait for it.......
the people!
1
I’m troubled by what the Justice Department has become under William Barr. There’s no longer any pretense of political independence, one of our most important democratic norms. Instead Barr’s fealty is obviously to Trump, not the Constitution. Any aspiring autocrat will first try to capture the umpires, including law enforcement and the judiciary. Mitch McConnell has already rendered Congress subservient, so only the courts remain independent.
21
What exactly is the administration's logic here? Tighter standards agreed upon by a state and automakers is somehow anti-trust?
This smells more like a temper tantrum on Trump's part.
24
It is important to note, that with the exception of the tax law and the appointment of Federal judgeships, all of Trumps actions are non-legislative. As a result what he is doing now can be quickly undone by another President. And what he is doing is not only bad for the economy it is bad for the health of the nation. We have a President, and frankly a US Attorney, who in reality anti- anti-American. Think about it-they want to pollute more, have Americans breath dirtier air, reduce safety standards, increase coal production, drill in sensitive parts of the US, and who knows what else. If you can say that these will be good for America-please tell me how.
14
@Den
Yes and I remember the republicans yelling tyrant at Obama for doing far less with XOs.
And now that trump is in power they are as silent as dormice. Nary a word about trump's actions w/o congress.
Almost makes you think they are hypocrites.
This will be very popular with people who buy Republican (that is, incandescent) light bulbs.
In separate action, the Trump Administration will propose a billion dollar grant for re-opening the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, to produce steam-driven vehicles powered by beautiful coal.
19
If this Republican administration doesn't want to allow automakers to agree to tighter emission standards in their own best interests, not to mention the planet's, whom do they think they're serving? Not the public. Not business. Just Trump's ego?
19
Trump is fighting last century's battle. Most folk are unaware of the benefits of electric cars. We have two, and they are primarily powered by our PV solar system. The addition of the cars took the normal 15-17 year payback for residential solar to under three years in gasoline savings alone.
We pass gas stations, oil changers, and tune-up parlors, dodge emission tests, transmission work, and do not have any engine maintenance at all.
We will all have these sooner than you think, which means great dislocations for society.
17
In addition to retaliation, this is Trump's attempt to lay a foundation in case Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic candidate.
If that were the matchup, Trump would use this case to box Warren - either her strongest issue would be taken off the table or she would be neutered on it. Trump could say he did more on anti-trust and consumer protection than she did.
1
@Bill Wolfe : And who would buy that nonsense other than Trump's cult members, who will support him no matter what anyway?
1
Only Trump supporters would cheer spending more money on gas.
That "economic anxiety" must've worn off.
14
The Republican Party is for
1. Laissez-faire government--nope.
2. Free trade--nope.
3. Balanced budgets--nope.
4. National security--nope
5. Lower taxes on the wealthy--yep.
6. Fewer regulations of business--yep.
7. More greenhouse gases--yep.
39
@Michael L Hays : Great list, but oddly enough this investigation almost contradicts your #6. This administration is indirectly trying to force automakers to produce higher-emission vehicles. That seems like a (perverse) regulation to me.
7
@DoTheMath, as I understand it, they are trying to remove the CA legislation/regulation which would otherwise require emission reduction. The effect, not any regulation, would increase emissions.
2
Next the EPA will require manufacturers to add lead to paint.
102
and back into gasoline...
5
@Mark
It does taste better with a touch of lead.
4
Trump and Barr have entered into a conspiracy in restraint of trade to increase pollution, accelerate global warming and undermine the health of Americans. Using the Justice Department for political purposes was one of Nixon’s action leading to impeachment. Trump is now increasing the grounds for his impeachment, and if he continues in this vein, even some Republicans may support impeachment to rid their party of a disjointed president whose actions are harmful to the world.
35
I will never buy anything from a company that folds to Trump. Are you listening GM and Toyota?
37
Trump misses the smog of his youth.
I’ve commented before. Watch we will be adding lead to our gasoline next.
11
The DOJ filed antitrust when ATT sought to buy Time-Warner, but crickets when Disney purchased Fox. The abuses of power are so blatantly public. why isn't more done or said to combat this? The Mueller report and its aftermath have confirmed that we're not going to see a "smoking gun" or see a major administration confidante flip a la John Dean to push the GOP into accepting the need to impeach. This is on you now Dems. The GOP aren't going to do anything to stop this flagrant abuse.
11
What this president wants to do is to "be right" at the expense of American Citizens who deserve better air. It is not about what he wants, but rather what is good for the people.
We must not allow this misguided, uneducated individual, who has no interest let alone belief in science, destroy what has been achieved.
15
I've long said that the man is petty in the sort of way that some evil folk can be petty.
Here we have more evidence. He cannot stand anything that was done by the prior Administration. It's all personal, it's all about him. I'm hoping this will be litigated to death.
He's hateful. This, like the Trade War with China, hurts US business more than it helps.
2020 is a referendum on whether our nation is hateful, too.
17
In planning to revoke California's legislation regarding automakers and greenhouse gas emissions, our Republican president is all about states' rights unless it angers him, or happens to be a blue state.
23
Voters of all stripes must not miss the most important aspect of this emissions issue. It is not only Trump and Barr who must be replaced but every GOP politician, starting with Moscow Mitch, who with their silence support treasonous behavior and empower a president dead set on making every person on the planet the victim of his profound ignorance. The 2020 election can re-set the priorities Trump is destroying and begin what will be a long process to re-establish America as a leader in saving the planet. Every vote for GOP candidates makes the voter complicit in destroying the planet and watching the "stable genius" in the oval office punish all of us for his disregarding the future even of his own grandchildren who will not have enough money to buy clean air and water when the world is in chaos. The time is now for Americans to tell the world that the present alligator infested administration has been replaced with an administration that will work with every country on the planet to reduce the dangers that cannot be dismissed or set aside for even one more day. Vote Democrats into every office in 2020. And to O'Rourke, Abrams, Bullock and anyone else who can initiate a Senate run do your job, set your egos aside, and prove you truly care about this country and help take back the Senate!
21
Can we just leave now. I am sure Oregon, Washington State and Hawaii would be keen to join us.
15
@Chad
So would NY.
Prior to the McConnell/Trump/Barr takeover our government something as absurd as for trying to bully car companies into making cars that pollute more.
I think Trump is getting more erratic by the day. If Trump’s kids weren’t so scared of their father they would get him out of the job that he can’t handle and get him the mental health help that he desperately needs.
14
The Democrats running for office need to hit trump and his GOP enablers over this latest insanity. Hard.
10
Kudos to Governor Newsom for doing the right thing and for not allowing the Trump administration to bully him. Hopefully, the automakers will also not be bullied.
17
Even worse than using government apparatus to extract political revenge is not admitting that you're doing it. If Trump were half the powerful man he thinks he is he'd admit to his use of power. But no, his choice to hide behind his use of power is merely an example of his cowardice.
11
Something is clearly rotten in Denmark. Is the Justice Department now the official "Hit men branch" of the Trump Administration?
15
Who is going to have the guts to say Enough! to Donald Trump? And when?
When has a President of the United States ever generated this level of angst, discord, disgust, anger among the citizens of his own country?
So I ask again, who is going to have the guts to say Enough, and when?
17
@Molly Cook : We are. On November 3, 2020.
Looks like another reason to impeach. Abuse of power — though I guess we have enough evidence of that already.
10
As I understand it, the Chinese are going in the direct opposite direction. They're moving towards hybrid and electric vehicles to reduce emissions and increase mileage. Meanwhile, under the leadership of Trump and his lackeys the US marches proudly back to the twentieth century.
15
@Dave
20th?, make that the 19th at least.
Interesting to see the Environmental PROTECTION Agency on the side of creating more pollution.
19
Every step that the present administration takes is meant to intimidate. It pays no attention to the will of the people.
Every step towards authoritarianism and dictatorship is a step towards an exit for those who don't wish to live in China/Russia/N Korea...
5
Has it occurred to anybody that if the automakers loosen the reduction of emissions, it affects their production costs? They know what they've got with the path they were already on. Trying to follow Trump's shilly-shallying decisions will mean they lose control of their costs. Using the California model will keep emissions lower than the federal standard. Is that a crime?
9
@Honey
In trump's world, anyone not scrapping their brow on the ground is committing a crime.
But no, the law gives CA the right to impose stricter standards.
This action by the DOJ regarding anti-trust is truly flipping things upside down. Suddenly backing off emissions standards is anti-competative! You have companies that have invested billions in research and manufacturing to reach a well-known standard which is suddenly degraded to let in competitors who no longer need to perform the same sort of due diligence in the marketplace.
This isn't the first time this kind of situation has been created during Trump's tenure.
My questions is - who has been lobbying (or worse) Trump and his Administration to effect these degraded standards?
Volkswagen could potentially argue to re-write their penalties if these degraded standards apply (since they could potentially then be in compliance)?
6
You don’t need lobbying. Trump knows he will be well rewarded by the fossil fuel fuel industries. And more than that, this is him settling scores and playing to his base. This is all he has now, since he can’t work with congress, govern, lead or inspire. Petty, vengeful actions like this will be what we see for the remainder of his term.
3
Continues to prove the DOJ is a political, punitive arm of the executive branch. There's zero reason to even investigate anything related to this. Car companies agreed to a deal that's better for the environment at a higher cost to them than what Trump wanted. Good for everyone? No, bad for Trump's ego so subsequently he has to abuse his power to get back at these companies and states that just won't bow to the Tiny Dictator we have in the oval office right now.
12
If emission standards are too loose, whether now or in a Trumpian future, we are left with an excellent alternative: boost fuel taxes.
When gas is $10/gal, we won't have to worry about federal or state fuel economy rules. The market will do the regulation for us.
And those auto manufacturers who invested in gas-guzzlers? Well ...
The beauty of it is that fuel tax rates can be set by states or even cities.
416
And wealthy people will rule the roads while poor people are forced to choose between getting to work or food, or perhaps deal with substandard if nonexistent public transportation.
45
@BAM
Use the tax revenue to pay for better transit.
51
@J Schlosser And the other countries that are producing high mileage vehicles will once again own the market thus making our vehicles uncompetitive. Make America Great Again? Right.
81
What possible purpose could be served by weakening auto emissions standards? If US automakers want to remain competitive in global markets they need to provide the cleaner, more efficient vehicles the world demands. Tariffs won't do it. If Trump wants to strengthen the economy this isn't the way to go. Maybe he's getting his advice from Putin?
8
@MattfrHe's getting his advice from the petroleum industry.
I've said this before but it might be worth repeating: for the automakers involved it makes good business sense to conform to the more stringent regulations since those are the ones that will be most applicable in most geographies for an industry that is truly global. R&D and design efforts can be applied across a greater number of product lines, manufacturing processes can be made more uniform irrespective of the country in which they take place, etc. This administration is trying to put its thumb on the scale for reasons that can only be guessed at; either to please its masters in the fossil fuel industry or to diminish the legacy of the previous administration?
Either way this move demonstrates the smallness of the President and his team.
918
@Hennessy "Small" is the key word with Trump, as in Napoleonic complex.
54
@John M -- the things that are "small" are all mental with Trump. Small-minded. Small, petty ideas. Small, vanishingly so, empathy. Well, perhaps not everything about Trump's smallness is mental... let's ask Stormy.
24
@John M and his hands :)
14
Most Americans undoubtedly stand with Ford, VW, Honda and BMW. Ironic that corporate America is, in some sectors, actually leaning towards improving citizens’ lives.
14
@P : In some cases, like this one, corporations can't ignore the fact that improving citizens' lives happens to be in their own best interests. They recognize a win-win when it's this obvious. On the other hand, Trump's very definition of a "win" involves making sure someone else loses. California has to lose for Trump to call this a win, so to heck with the environment, citizens' well-being, and even corporate profits.
1
I am having difficulty understanding how an agreement by 30% of an industry to essentially operate with a higher cost structure than the rest of the industry is anti-competitive or enables the four companies to use their market power to initiate predatory actions against consumers.
I would have to imagine that the purist believers in unfettered free markets, the majority of whom are republicans or libertarians, are apoplectic right now. I am holding my breath for the visceral reaction and condemnation that should be coming from them any minute now.
557
@JS
I understand your objection, and share your dismay at DOJ action, but the agreement does technically provide some benefit to the automakers which may not have materialized if they didn't jointly negotiate and agree to the framework. That's the hook the DOJ could use to file antitrust charges. If you google the "Terms for Light-Duty Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards" PDF on ca.gov, the companies got the state of California to soften a number of its requirements (e.g. "Remove the requirement to account for upstream emissions of fuels, as these can be addressed by other programs.") Without this agreement, automakers would have had to comply with costlier state requirements, or face the possibility of costly court battles with the state for years, which would result either lost revenue in the interim as they were banned from vehicle sales, or lost revenue to fines or other damages if a temporary injunction were granted against a ban on sales.
3
@JS, Well condemnation may not come. So, don't hold your breath for too long.
5
@Bob
Why is it OK for companies to negotiate all kinds of regulatory relief, tax cuts and infrastructure with states in which they seek to locate, but they are not allowed to negotiate on emissions standards of vehicles? The DOJ must have had to brush the dust off the Anti-trust Laws, since they have ignored many mergers which should have been clear violations of those laws. This hypocritical attempt to use Anti-trust laws in this case appears to be a blatant abuse of power by the President and his sycophant AG and DOJ.
57
The average person on the street wants to drive a car and abate climate change. There is a tremendous amount of money to be made by automakers, their suppliers, and by the oil and gas companies if they would stop having to fiddle while the world burns with lawsuit and misdirection. There are other resource issues to be sure, but finding the right materials for the mass production of fuel cells and their related technologies seems, to this average person, the way to go in a manner that will allow current fuel distribution companies to transition and all of us to avoid the coming war over the rare earths needed for lithium/nickel batteries.
2
@Chris Kox
For information:
Rare earth elements are not needed for lithium ion batteries. Cobalt and nickel are the main metals used.
1
I hope the business world takes careful note of this and considers whether it really wants to continue to donate huge amounts to the GOP. Here we see Trump using the DOJ for his own political ends, threatening car companies for improving air quality and lowering our gas bills. A few weeks ago, Trump ORDERED companies not to do business in China. Trump’s trade war has our whole economy mired in uncertainty, and could lead to a recession. This is not a “business friendly” environment.
892
@E true, but I'm sure these companies are happy that they can pollute a river upstream now without consequence.
ggrrrr
7
@E - the Chain "Order" was a Tweet, not an exercise of formal presidential power. A Big difference that seems lost on much of the media and American public.
1
@CPod I don't believe that's what they're thinking, unlike the corrupt "justice department". They understand that GLOBALLY, humans do NOT want to contribute anymore than they have to to climate pollution. China, India and Europe represent huge markets. Short-sighted appeasement of this "administration" will only hurt the car companies.
28
The California regulation discriminates against automakers who cannot compete with the fuel standards. The big automakers are not being altruistic or demonstrating concern for the environment. They are obstructing new market entrants. The automakers involved could easily have conspired to this end, hence an antitrust investigation. I am a Democratic pro-environment voter, but make no mistake, this is classic rent seeking.
@Thomas Hobbes
You’re a Democrat that doesn’t seem to understand the automobile market. “New market entrants” such as...? Most automakers aren’t small orgs and it’s very rare that you get startup auto companies, which if you do they’re probably going to produce BEVs. Most auto companies are part of huge conglomerates or are backed in some form or manner by their own state govs. If you’re referring to new entrants like ultra luxury KARMA or Hennessey then you’re discussing companies that are producing hypercars which not even for the mass market. This is not rent seeking this is California practicing its right to control its own air emissions.
5
@Thomas Hobbes - This is an agreement voluntarily entered into where the companies agree to follow a certain standard. It only binds those 4 companies.
They are not lobbying California to increase or even enforce these standards on others.
If the latter were true, THAT would be rent-seeking.
4
@Thomas Hobbes In the absence of an autocratic administration that is subverting environmental safeguards, this would be rent seeking. In this case, however, the four automakers are showing leadership- and smart marketing in the face of administrative abuse of power. Regarding barriers to entry, it is improbable that a startup would succeed in an already consolidated industry by introducing a low gas mileage car- without or without the regulation. What would likely happen if the milage standards were to be eliminated is the incumbents, in the face of a new entrant, would produce at lower cost a competitive alternative to the entrant's product and drive them out of business. (No pun intended.)
4
This will backfire on Republicans, be challenged and not be resolved until after Trump loses the election or is otherwise compelled voluntarily or involuntarily to leaves office.
2
Do we need further proof the DOJ is a political arm of this administration? This is a baseless investigation meant to appease a base, both financial and voting, that detest the fact that in a capitalist society government regulation is absolutely necessary to prevent the country from collapsing upon itself. Or, in this case, the entire ecosystem collapsing.
Well, at least government intervention that conflicts with their long standing beliefs.
24
Three points here:
First, I have never seen an explanation for how the Trump administration can legally strip California's legal authority to a waver that the Clean Air Act explicitly grants California. This waver isn't just a regulation promulgated by earlier administrations; it is actually written into the act. If the Supreme Court were to allow it, it would violate a lot of principles of Federalism as well as invalidate numerous other laws that grant various states special treatment.
Second, I understand the legal concept of anti-trust as a means to curtail corporate collusion to limit competition, etc. I don't think that has ever been used to force corporations to lower their compliance to a regulatory anti-pollution requirement. If the government were to succeed here, wouldn't that apply to any and all products that are safer, less polluting, etc., than what the regulatory threshold requires?
Third, those of us who understand the increasing evil of this administration can only hope that a future DOJ finds a way to investigate those like Myron Ebell and most of the other actors in this administration currently or formerly responsible for the evisceration of environmental laws and regulations. Certainly, a case for conspiracy to commit crimes against humanity can be made in this instance.
38
@R. Williams You point out the crux of withdrawing the waiver. Under section 209 of the Clean Air Act, California gets the waiver unless the federal government can show the standards are a) arbitrary and capricious b) unneeded or c) inconsistent with other sections of the act.
see https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/california-greenhouse-gas-waiver-request
Given the extent of the legal record covering many decades, the administration would essentially have to come up with alternative laws of physics and chemistry to justify denying the waiver. Short of that, the only way for Trump to get what he wants would be to amend the Clean Air Act. Good luck!
8
I totally agree with your second point. The point of anti trust laws is to protect consumers from cartel like activity which is harmful to consumers. The law simply does not apply when companies are doing something to their own detriment.
4
I can't believe I'm reading this. We will look long and hard for forgiveness if this president is allowed to continue rolling back efforts to save the Earth for future generations. Although--- right, there won't be anyone around to forgive us.
14
California has had stricter emission deadlines for decades. It is a business decision on whether to ship those vehicles that meet those stricter guidelines to other states.
How very un-Repbulican of the Trump administration to interfere with business in this fashion.
1381
@LexDad
Not really un-Republican. They have never meant the rhetoric they spout.
112
No. It’s very Republican. Taken at face value, it’s a challenge to rent seeking by big automakers.
5
When have Republicans ever objected to rent-seeking by large corporations? You’d have to go back to Teddy Roosevelt.
Companies have been making cars to meet California’s stricter standards for 45 years. By your definition they’ve all been guilty of rent-seeking. How is this different?
21
Time for the governments of all States with any intelligence, courage, and integrity at all to get on board with California!
New Hampshire Gov. Sununu (and the Legislature): DO THE RIGHT THING! Join California now! Pass the requisite state laws.
24
Gee, how harmful to our environment if the CAFE standards are increased! This "president" will go to nay extremes to get his way, aided and abetted by his toady William Barr.
What happened to State rights? They reattaching the corporations, but we all know it's California that Trump hates.
If these auto makers are cowed by this move, then where do we stop getting rolled over by this and future obvious ploys?
13
45 is a clear and present danger who puts americans at risk nearly every day, whether it's through his policies that damage the environment or his failed foreign policies or disastrous trade policies. only a sociopath is so vindictive and uncaring - and now the republican's own that brand. i can't wait till november 3, 2020.
12
Trump telling private companies what to do when they are not breaking the law is the opposite of free market capitalism, it's communism. Yet he is pointing fingers at the left?!
27
@Kelli Hoover - If Trump seized and nationalized the companies, THAT would be Communism (I.E., no private ownership.)
I think his attempts to force his will on private industry fits pretty well inside the definition of Fascism, though.
Big surprise...
1
It is because the California emissions pact embarrassed Trump that it is being investigated.
15
Bill Barr is Trump’s legal agent at the DOJ. He also got a preferred rate for his holiday party at a Trump hotel. The corruption is so replete that we, the public, have no real remedy
19
I guess the GOP only champions "States Rights" if the state in question happens to be red.
15
It's cute that Trump thinks it is just those four automakers. That is all.
5
Looks like he's still irked at California for voting against him, or still fighting Obama and desperate for a victory. "If they're for it, I'm against it, whatever it is." If Obama is for fuel efficiency and clean air, I'll oppose cleaner cars. If California is for being nice to puppies and kittens, I will kick them and step on their tails.
11
Next he’ll attack light bulbs!
I’ll admit I haven’t read the article but the idea that poor Trump was embarrassed as indicated in the title makes me laugh. Such a fragile ego!
6
So for all those noble and well intentioned folks who commented a couple of weeks ago that they wouldn't buy a car from a company who DIDN'T sign with California guess what? You will be given no choice. That's life under mafia rule. The King is angry.
Think Leaf or Tesla.
9
Is this the deliverable that came out of the White House’s meeting with Mary Barra?
1
This doesn’t seem like it’s about EPA standards.
Sounds like child-man Trump wants to throw his oversized ego around by dispatching his Dept of Justice hounds on the big, bad, naughty companies that dare defy his will.
8
The "Justice Department" ? WHAT Justice Department ?? "Our" Attorney General is a pathetic lap-dog to Trump. The Supreme Court has become a stacked deck. I don't call that "Justice".
Let's get this crazy scenario straight. Everyone knows that auto emissions contribute greatly to Global Warming. California is doing absolutely the right thing in creating clean and tough standards for auto and truck pollution. That's a good thing.
So, how does that even closely equate to opening an "Antitrust Inquiry"? What a complete waste of Taxpayer money.
That's not Justice. That's bullying. That is Political hogwash designed to (a) distract from the truth of the real issue, and (b) make more money for the CEO's in Big Oil.
May California win this lawsuit, big time. I applaud and support the Auto Makers who have the ethics and common sense to build a better product for a better World.
And ~ may 2020 bring us a President who doesn't see this World as his own, personal dumpster.
9
It is very troubling that the Justice Department is again bowing to political pressure, and is being used by Trump to "intimidate or punish companies that have angered the President."
For the good of the country, let us begin the very difficult work of expunging this idiotic autocrat from his office by any means legal, up to and including impeachment. Furthermore, his GOP enablers must be so soundly drubbed at the ballot box in 2020, 2022, and beyond (and in every special election for good measure) that this strain of toxic, anti-democratic, party-over-country, Republicanism will never again stain our Republic.
7
What a joke that our EPA has become today!
No wonder world will step past us by quite like they did the FAA that the new Boeing 747 max is totally airworthy and grounded the planes.
How dare ! of the auto makers to displease the "chosen one" See the Senate does not even try ! of course its Anti trust and Anti Trump! Remember who is "the" majority in Supreme Court now !
4
Anyone who thought William Barr was an honorable lawyer can no longer harbor such delusion. He is as corrupt as any Attorney General in American history.
10
This is kind of getting to the point that there needs to be something like the trials after world war 2 for trump and his henchmen after the US comes to his senses and gets rid of him.
Suing states and car makers for not wanting to pollute enough...what’s next suing oil companies for not creating enough spills? Suing japan for not killing enough whales? Suing North Korea for not using its nukes to ruin the planet?
6
How insensitive, rude and callous of the automakers to aim for better gas mileage. They should have known this would hurt the President's feelings. It's high time people got in line to protect the President's fragility. Any policy that resembles the Obama administration's offends Mr. Trump. Doesn't everyone know that? Treat this man with kid gloves, nation!
8
Breathtaking! Trump admin wants to take our collective breaths away.
6
This is an administration at war with its own country.
6
When did the Justice Dept become a political tool ???
8
@Ollie The Day William Barr was confirmed to AG.
This Justice Department has become nothing more than a political arm of a corrupt, unhinged, Trump Administration. Under Puppet Barr, decades of integrity, decency and excellent jurisprudence have been replaced with outright tyranny and abuse of power. California will win this battle. Taxpayer money will be wasted yet again as Barr’s Justice Department thumbs it’s nose at the future of American people, their children and grandchildren only to serve the polluters. They will lose. Anti-trust? Ridiculous. And they know it. Are there any principled lawyers left in the Justice Department? Why don’t they speak up and out? When will this nightmare be over?
5
I'm so sick of the country being run by a person who bases his decisions on whether or not his little feelings have been hurt.
7
I wish we could put trump and his cronies in jail for their crimes against the environment, the constitution, their corruption, tearing kids away from families etc etc.
7
@BR : We can. The first step is to vote them out of office so they are no longer in control of the system they're abusing to punish their enemies and protect themselves.
2
President Trump has the DOJ in his back pocket! Nothing good will come out of this. As someone who left their home country partially due the corrupt political and judicial system, every news of this kind send chills down my spine.
6
The DOJ and this president are truly enemies of the people.
5
Instead of focusing on Healthcare and Infrastructure, this administration chooses to use its resources to sue California for trying to protect the environment. And somehow this doesn't surprise me.
15
There is absolutely no way the 45 administration could ever say they love this country. They are actively trying to environmentally degrade the country for the sake of a few thousand jobs. What purpose is there to make vehicles less efficient today and in the years to come when we are in a global climate crisis.
19
@Brodie
Realistically, none of this really matters... auto manufactures have been improving the fuel economy of their cars for the past several decades. More so now because the standard US consumer is becoming more price conscious, especially regarding a car's fuel economy. Most consumers who are in the market for a car give little to no consideration of the car's fuel economy impact on the environment, but rather the savings of not having to fill a tank. This doesn't even start to account for other various technologies such as electric cars and hybrids which have become fairly competitive and on par with gas/diesel cars.
1
@Mat I completely agree. However, the principle is that they are allowing manufactures to get slip back into pushing product without much care for emissions. It has the possibility of letting other manufacturers pull a VW diesel move. We can't assume manufactures will take the moral high ground.
1
The question I have is why? Reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiency are both positives. Why? By now Detroit and the rest of the automotive industry around the world are retooling for these changes. It's as if Donald Trump is trying to take America and the entire world back to the days of "Leave it to Beaver." How preposterous can you get?
36
@Jean W. Griffith Why?! Because Obama did it, or approved it. That's enough for Trump to get rid of it. Make sense? I thought not.
5
It's not just sad but morally squalid if not bankrupt to see the DOJ so corrupted as to comply with yet another of President Twitter's hissy fits. One that once again is proudly aimed at acting against the public interest that some of the big automakers have wisely embraced in keeping with the dictates of science, conscience and ultimately best practices in a time of universally acknowledged (with the pitiful exception of the Trump administration which requires government agencies be its shill) climate change.
13
Throughout human history, a person in power has single handedly brought more havoc to humanity. We are living in the era of history repeating all over itself. I had hoped it would escape my and my children's generations, but sadly not to be.
20
I don't believe that Donald Trump can make me buy a more polluting car. He might try, of course, but I'm confident I'd win.
As of now, i am putting the car companies that do NOT endorse and comply with the California regulations on notice. I will not buy their cars, at any price, at any time. I will urge those I know to do the same.
131
@Matthew O'Brien
Agreed. Why would anyone want to buy a car that got FEWER miles to the gallon? Once again, I had to double check that I was not reading The Onion.
This just feels insane.
9
It’s been well over forty years since I was in law school and I have probably forgotten more than I ever learned. But I do vaguely remember that the entire purpose of antitrust laws was to protect the public from agreements by businesses in restraint of competition, agreements that thus deprived consumers of the better prices and otherwise better deals that they could get in a freely operating economic environment.
So help me understand how an agreement to submit to emissions regulation would violate the antitrust laws? If anything, companies that sign up to meet higher standards are not restricting competition, but making themselves LESS competitive in the free market—since meeting those standards will likely raise production costs and thus will make these companies’ vehicles more expensive than competitors’ vehicles made to less rigorous standards.
Isn’t companies’ freedom to set their own standards—whether those standards are about emissions limits or grades of upholstery—exactly what “free markets” are all about? So how is this action by our Justice Department anything more than an abuse of power? Anything more than yet another “hit-em-back-harder” by our chief executive, our schoolyard-bully-in-chief who now, thanks to the “unitary executive” acquiescence by the attorney general, has the full force of federal law enforcement at his disposal to do his every revengeful bidding.
72
@Steel Magnolia Dear Steel, It is an antitrust violation because California is only going to allow those car manufacturers that sign this higher mpg agreement to sell into California. So as a consumer i will have fewer choices and the price of cars will be higher. California already restricts me from buying a car in another state and registering it here....if these "side deals" are allowed to exist it just makes the problem worse.
@steve k Dear Steve, California will allow in any vehicle regardless of manufacturer that meet the state's emission requirements. These specific manufacturers were simply going to meet the higher (California) standards with all their vehicles sold in the US (which upset and embarrassed the Administration). Each state sets their own standards, many mirror the federal standards but not all, and if you purchase a vehicle out of state, you then have to have the vehicle tested (smog tested) to confirm that it meets your state's emission standards. Here is a link to the Cal DMV which might help.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29
9
It's always just too simple, and it's always the same (basic) reasons: 'Because the rules were enacted under President Obabma. That's it folks, Trump wants ALL of President Obama's rules, overturned, erased, and stricken from the history books. They can spout whatever reasons they want, but Trumps 'Justice Department' now works (seemingly) for him only.
77
@david: It's not just Obama's environmentalism: in this case, it's being California also. Not a chance that the Trump administration is going to let them get away with that!
7
There is a remedy to the president's using intimidation by the formerly non-partisan DoJ to effect political outcomes.
Are you listening, Ms. Pelosi?
55
Please educate me: Does antitrust law actually prohibit competitors from negotiating together with a state government? Doesn't the state's involvement create at least a presumption that consumers' interests are being protected? Does this mean the signatories to the 1998 Tobacco Settlement Agreement may have violated antitrust law?
66
Any agreement to limit pollution could be procompetitive under the rule of reason in light of environmental concerns.
10
And while they are at it how about the Trump Administration banning Digital Photography ? Let's revive the photo film industry and put Eastman Kodak back on the map !
Lots of chemicals will be needed once again and we can all get in the car to drop off film for processing and then get in the car again to go pick it up when the pictures are ready.
And like Kodak used to say "Take lots of pictures !" - (on Film of course !) We all want to get back any way we can to 1958 right ?
43
@JPS And if I am lucky; I will get a LOVE CANAL in my back yard.
2
Does the Justice Dept want to force the automakers to pollute? Since when was it any business of the Federal Government to tell business how to conduct business? This is not an illegal activity when you agree to make a cleaner less polluting car. But Justice is telling them you must make a car that is more polluting? Since when can you not be more stringent than what the laws says?
48
The industry didn't embarrass the President. He took care of that himself.
149
@THFinN Everyday in every way.
3
Under the unholy alliance of Putin's Trump and the GOP I guess this is the first step to turn the Dept of Justice into the Dept of Vendetta. Nixon's failure was he tried to convert the intelligence agencies instead of appointing a crony to head the Dept of Justice.
31
No collusion! No collusion! warns the Trump's in-house Department of Justice - Certainly not for such a doubtful purpose as cleaner air, and trying to put a lid on global warming.
9
We have truly become a banana republic. Instead of going after the bad guys, the Justice Department is a front for the bad guys and is going after the good guys.
Up has become down and truth has become lies: the Justice Department of the United States is investigating companies for trying to make the world a better place.
93
What is wrong with these people? I mean honestly, the manufacturers don't want to produce dirty vehicles because it puts them at a massive disadvantage globally. Americans don't want dirty cars. It would seem that the only people who want to sully our environment want to do it completely out of spite.
24
Trump is trying to not only impose lower fuel economy standards on an industry that doesn’t want them for the purpose of freeing those companies to pollute, he’s using big government to force the state to comply. Everything this administration does is not only backward, it’s insane.
42
Private business wants to engage with States to establish environmental benchmarks independent of federal standards and the Federal government wants to block that action. But "the left" is comprised of a bunch of communists and socialists who wants to interfere in every facet of American lives.
9
@Norman Dupuis
Actually, the auto makers want to sell cars in Europe, which is going fossil-fuel independent for its vehicles over the next 10-15 years. Its stupid, i.e. not very cost-efficient, for them to build totally different cars for the US and EU (and probably Asian) markets. They are trying to get ahead of the power curve. Something Trump, and apparently you, are unaware of!
1
"Now, the Justice Department is investigating whether the four automakers violated federal antitrust laws by reaching a side deal to follow California’s stricter rules,"..... I guess the Justice Department doesn't have enough to do. The problem with white supremacy groups apparently doesn't exist, and the mass slaughter with assault rifles is not an issue. Investigating Comey, Muller, and the FBI, is clearly not enough pithy enough to keep them busy.
18
Aside from the greed which flows in their bloodstream, Republicans are attracted to dirty air, super heated air, dirty water, and land development at any cost. Proven time and again in the last few years.
Oil rigs on the landscape are preferred in order to fuel gas guzzlers, which they also love. Any orgy with the oil industry is always welcome.
Flora and fauna are unknown words.
7
Clear and incontrovertible evidence that Trump is an enemy of the environment
17
@Jim
And the majority of the people!
If consumers want more energy efficient vehicles and the automakers wan to fulfill those demands, why is the Trump Admin pushing the opposite? Isn’t the GOP all about free market capitalism or is this just a naked attempt to mess with California? Why is the EPA acting like a dog with a bone?
5
I wish every article about Trump would end in this fashion: Trump's vindictiveness against the auto companies and his need to be always right, even to the point of lying, as in the hurricane map, are common symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, according to psychiatrist fill inn the blank at fill in the blank.
Others symptoms are listed on the Mayo Clinic web site.
10
Trump and GOP hypocrisy at its best. I guess they forgot about state rights (it is in the constitution) and freedom of the market place that they so assiduously argued for re the Affordable Care Act and other federal based regulatory legislation
12
And the best shot across the bow would be for citizens to let their Senators and Representatives and the EPA know that they will not purchase cars that fail to meet California's standards.
6
Ford, Volkswagen, Honda and BMW are 'conspiring' to preserve the Earth's fragile ecosystem that supports all human, animal and plant life.
...and the Trump Administration and the Gas Oil Petroleum party is actively conspiring with the oil lobby to destroy the the Earth's fragile ecosystem that supports all human, animal and plant life.
America's citizens should sue the Trump Administration for conspiracy, authoritarianism and crimes against the climate and humanity.
18
@Socrates. I will happily join your lawsuit.
Oh please!!
This justice department needs to be completely vacated and rebuilt at the top levels as it is now completely owned by partisan hacks who are using it for political purposes.
13
“appears to be inconsistent with federal law.” A thinly veiled “PR” attention seeking statement by the Justice Dept.
4
I would not be surprised if Trump made a side deal with his buddies in Saudi Arabia.
What other possible reason would there be?
8
He'll target his enemies like Jeff Bezos, California, or people who hurt his feelings and cramp his style. The banks own everything, but he will not be investigating those. His policy is so mean spirited. It is juvenile to the nth degree.
7
This is UN-believable... hassling businesses that want to help the environment. The only purpose can be to benefit the oil industry. Historians will be busy when Trump's gone - this will add to chapters about Trump's bastardization of the United States.
5
Giving a darn about the enviroment must be outlawed.
Or does it just seem that Trump and Barr want it that way?
3
the dept and breadth of the corruption of (t)Rump and his SS troopers continues to astound. this is clearly not what the anti-trust laws were enacted to do. however it is a clear example of the fallacy of hubris: that the powers one gives to the government when in power will always remain under your control and be used for the purpose you intended.
6
Tin pot dictators LOVE using government agencies to attack their opponents. And tRump is the tinniest of tin pots. But who wouldn't take business advise from a multi-bankrupt debtor?
5
Punishing companies for not using enough oil? Why not rule that cars will not be allowed to get more than 10 MPG?
It's amazing that the ONLY thing that makes this president tick is hoping to override ANY law or ruling put in place by his better predecessor. Very easy to destroy things - how many beneficial things has this jerk actually created for America?
5
@Phil
"Punishing companies for not using enough oil?"
Why not? Wyoming specifically taxes wind turbine electricity generation, since it competes with their coal mines!
What's next, the Justice Dept. investigating McDonalds for selling non-meat burgers?
Our President and his minions are truly corrupt and act as if our Great Country is a banana republic.
Nancy Pelosi needs to start impeachment proceedings, before Mr. Trump causes more damage to our Country.
I believe that if Nancy Pelosi does not agree to impeachment proceedings soon, she will lose support for the Democratic Party.
No one will support a do nothing party in the face of a President that is doing wholesale damage to his country.
11
Trump knows he cannot win in the courts on this matter. So he is instead using the enforcement arm of the United States Government (enabled by his lapdog Barr) to intimidate and punish the private sector for working with California on this common-sense issue. We are, once again, in serious banana republic territory here.
Congress must call for an investigation into the origin and rationale for this outrageous and authoritarian act. And pass legislation to close whatever ridiculous loophole DoJ is using to justify this as an “antitrust violation.”
4
Using the DOJ as a weapon of the the federal government against the health of the people starkly defines this White House. DOJ officials should all be resigning, but of course the head of the DOJ will just throw a party at a Trump hotel.
6
I think someone at the WH has mixed something up on a Powerpoint slide...
Instead of "zero admissions for refugees and increased emissions for motor vehicles", it was meant to be;
"Increased admissions of refugees and zero emissions for motor vehicles"
I'm trying to find a funny side to today's news
7
An administration that loves the second amendment, but hasn’t bothered to read the rest of even the bill of rights. The Tenth Amendment would allow California to do this, but it seems the GOP and this corrupt justice department only like ‘States rights’ when it means they can disenfranchise people of color?
3
The EPA should ban trump. He is the greatest threat to the environment.
5
Sure, investigate something that "embarrassed" Trump?
One would think the DoJ had better, more relevant things to do.
3
Barr should stop wasting his time on this and instead be using the dept. Resources to stop the Russians from meddling in our elections.
Of course we know he will not do that!
3
What about state’s rights?
3
I thought anti-trust laws existed to stop a company or companies from becoming a monopoly in order to promote fair market competition. Leave it to Trump and unscrupulous attorneys to ignore the intent of the law and to twist it’s language for their own ends. Imagine - a State that wants to protect the environment in the absence of the Federal Gov’t’s lack of will to do so! Republicans are all for States’s Rights only when it suits them to be. We know what THIS Justice Dept will do - protect Trump, no matter what. Perhaps Barr was never actually the “respectable” lawyer he was touted to be.
10
This is how totalitarian governments act: they put the force of government at the disposal of one man; paying no heed to the rule of law, they use law as a way to enforce personal vendettas.
13
Anything good for American, trump is against. Does he think his future is the last for everyone?
4
"Legal experts and people close to the Trump administration said the investigation was meant as a show of force for companies that have displeased the president."
So it's come to this... displeasing the president necessitates a "show of force"? I hope every voter, regardless of party affiliation, agrees that we cannot afford a president who operates out of vindictiveness, and who takes disproportionate PERSONAL umbrage at what is NOT a personal slight, but rather a business decision arising from a predicament Trump created for the auto industry.
This is just one more example that Trump's modus operandi is always predicated upon adversarial relationships, even if he has to create them himself.
30
@D Price
Moscow Mitch doesn't care enough about any of this to raise his sclerotic ire and do something about it.
1