Critics of a new Environmental Protection Agency emissions policy see the pollution control measure as just another gas-price hike brought into existence by a president who used his White House office to bypass Congress and the will of the people.
The administration unveiled a new proposal Friday aimed at purifying emissions from vehicles by reducing sulfur levels in gasoline, the Associated Press reports. EPA says the new rules, which tighten emission standards for all vehicles starting in 2017, would only increase gas prices by a penny and raise car purchase costs by $130.
Not all buy those cost estimates. Fox News says the new EPA rule is basically a copycat of California’s costly emission controls, and that oil industry experts say the price to consumers for compliance is closer to a 9-cent increase per gallon of gas.
Bob Cusack, managing editor of the Hill, told Fox News that the new EPA rules represent President Obama’s latest attempt to circumvent Congress and the will of voters.
“President Obama couldn’t get climate change through a Democratic Congress a few years ago,” Mr. Cusack said. “He couldn’t get it done through Congress so he’s going to do it administratively,” through the EPA.
Politically, the emission control measure is still unpopular. Even Democrats aren’t all board, particularly those from states with heavy oil and gas business such as Alaska and Louisiana, Mr. Cusack told Fox News.
The national average for a gallon of gas is currently $3.64, Fox News reports.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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