California's long-standing commitment to clean air hit a roadblock when House Republicans attempted to roll back the state's clean car standards, which have been instrumental in reducing smog and protecting public health. Governor Gavin Newsom quickly condemned the House's action, labeling it illegal and an affront to decades of bipartisan environmental progress.
In a vigorous response, Newsom called out the House for using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to challenge California's right to set its own vehicle emissions standards, a prerogative backed by more than a century of waivers. The Governor highlighted, "Trump Republicans are hellbent on making California smoggy again. Clean air didn’t used to be political."
The controversy stems from the Republican-controlled House's interpretation of the CRA. However, both the Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian have previously clarified that the CRA's expedited process does not apply to such waivers. Under Republican stewardship, the likes of Reagan and Nixon, it was once a bipartisan mission to see California breathe easier. Yet, as Newsom said, "The only thing that’s changed is that big polluters and the right-wing propaganda machine have succeeded in buying off the Republican Party."
California's air quality strategy has been synonymous with innovation and economic growth. Despite aggressive pushback from certain federal quarters, the state has experienced a decrease in pollution levels by 20% since 2000. Concomitantly, its GDP has surged by 78% over the same period. Last year, California's reliance on 100% clean electricity exceeded 50 days, highlighting an ongoing commitment to sustainable energy and hinting at the potential fallout that could come from undercutting such progress, according to Governor Gavin Newsom.
