Brown urges Congress to authorize California's greenhouse gas emissions standards in auto bailout

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California Attorney General Jerry Brown sent Congressional leaders a letter Friday urging them to include language in any automaker bailout legislation that would authorize California and other states to implement and enforce California's greenhouse gas emissions standards.

Sources in the AG's office say California's greenhouse gas standards require a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles by 2016.

More than a dozen states have adopted similar standards, which the auto industry has fought on a consistent basis.

Text of the Attorney General's letter:

RE: Automobile Industry Bailout

Dear Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi, Majority Leader (Harry) Reid, Representative Barney Frank, and (Christopher) Senator Dodd:

As you consider a bailout of the automobile manufacturers and the adequacy of their plans for revitalizing this important industry, I encourage you to include language in any legislative package authorizing California and other states to implement and enforce California's greenhouse gas emissions standards.

For over 40 years, California has had the authority to set stricter standards than the federal government for automobile emissions under the Clean Air Act. For thirty years, other states have been permitted to adopt those tougher standards. The program has worked exceedingly well.

In 2005, California applied this authority to greenhouse gas emissions. More than a dozen states have adopted identical regulations.

Nevertheless, the automobile industry has attacked them at every turn, and has indicated it will continue to do so.

That's why I'm urging you to condition any taxpayer assistance to the automobile industry on an explicit authorization for California and other states to implement California's landmark greenhouse gas emission standards.

Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Attorney General of California 

There are rumblings from Capitol Hill that the bailout is approved.  Will the language the Attorney General specifies be included?