President Trump has rescinded a waiver that allowed California to set its own auto emissions standards.
The move will almost certainly draw a legal challenge.
According to CNBC:
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that his administration is barring California from setting its own auto emissions standards, setting up a fresh struggle over the president’s push to unravel restrictions on businesses.
In tweets announcing the move, the president said the White House “is revoking” a federal waiver that allowed the state to craft its own rules on greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Trump argued he blocked California’s ability to do so “in order to produce far less expensive cars for the consumer, while at the same time making the cars substantially SAFER.”
He also claimed “there will be very little difference in emissions” under federal rules his administration plans to release than under standards California agreed to with automakers.
The Trump Administration is revoking California’s Federal Waiver on emissions in order to produce far less expensive cars for the consumer, while at the same time making the cars substantially SAFER. This will lead to more production because of this pricing and safety……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2019
….far safer and much less expensive. Many more cars will be produced under the new and uniform standard, meaning significantly more JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! Automakers should seize this opportunity because without this alternative to California, you will be out of business.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2019
Trump takes the step over the protests of Democratic officials and activists in California, who argue it inhibits efforts to fight climate change and improve public health. On Tuesday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the state would file a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from pulling its waiver.
President Trump has made it a point to roll back many of the burdensome regulations set by the Obama administration and this is another step in that process.
Critics will likely attack Trump for ruining the climate.
