The Autobahn to Car Consumer Hell Is Paved with the Best Intentions

William YeatmanAfterbailing out two of the “Big 3” Detroit automakers, President Obama called in his markers during the summer of 2011. That’s when his administrationannounced an agreement with major car manufacturers to increase federal fuel economy standards to 54.5 miles per gallon (MPG) by 2025.At the time, fleet averages (including cars and light-duty trucks) were about 27 MPG; doubling that figure in 14 years was a tall order requiring technological breakthroughs that might or might not happen.Accordingly, the 2011 agreement included an escape hatch. The plan stipulated for a “mid-term review” process, by which regulatory agencies could revisit their fuel efficiency targets and change course if necessary.Under the agreement ’s terms, the mid-term review was due by April of 2018. All the parties to the original accord understood that the mid-term review would entail a process that unfolded up to the 2018 deadline in order to best inform the final decision with the latest data.If Hillary Clinton had won in 2016, the process would have occurred as initially expected. But then Trump won, and the Obama administration scrambled to finish a  mid-term review during the outgoing president’s lame-duck session.After a six-week rulemaking conducted with breakneck speed, Obama ’s agencies completed their mid-term review with only eight days to spare before Trump occupied the White House. To no one’s surprise, the Obama administrationaffirmed its original 54.5 ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs